ILLEGAL TREASURE HUNT. Five individuals suspected of conducting illegal treasure hunting are arrested by the personnel of Butuan City Police Office Station 5 (BCPO-5) on Friday (March 13, 2020) in Barangay Tungao, Butuan City. The suspects face charges for illegal treasure hunting and unauthorized excavation. (Photo courtesy of BCPO Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – Five individuals were arrested by authorities here for allegedly engaging in illegal treasure hunting.
In a report on Friday (March 13), Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) chief, Col. Canelo Fuentes, identified the suspects as Antonio Sumodlayon, 58; Proserdo Buenaflor, 48; Vicente Linga, 61; Ramil Sungahid, 43; and Paulo John Palingcod, 20.
“The suspects were caught excavating and in actual treasure hunting on Friday when our police personnel arrived in Purok 25, San Roque, Barangay Tungao, Butuan City,” Fuentes said.
The police operation, led by BCPO Station 5, was launched in response to the report of civilians in the area who expressed concern over the environmental outcomes of the diggings done by the suspects for days, he added.
“The suspects failed to present any permit for the excavations and a land title to signify that anyone of them owns the land,” Fuentes said.
Confiscated from the suspects include two pieces of shovels, six pieces of "bolos" with scabbards, nine pieces of iron moils in different sizes and lengths, and other pieces of evidence.
He said the police officers conducted the arrest in coordination with the personnel of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Fuentes said the suspects are now detained at the BCPO Station 5 and will face charges of illegal mining activities.
Last year, the police official said a number of arrests were also conducted by BCPO on illegal treasure hunting activities in the area of Tungao. (PNA)
