Sta. Cruz, Zambales – Police operatives here intercepted a truck loaded with 150 sacks of chromite ores allegedly taken from the mining area of A3 Una Mining Corporation in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

Mr. Scott Ian Yu, President of A3 Una Mining Corp. reported the incident to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo and requested the MGB to conduct inventory and seize the minerals. According to Mr. Yu, the confiscated mineral ores were allegedly part of old stockpiles extracted from the MPSA of A3 Una in Matalisbong, Sta. Cruz, Zambales

In view of the said allegation, RD Alburo dispatched Engineers Danilo Fernandez and Fermin Pasos, Jr. to conduct inventory of chromite ores and investigate the said incident.

The team reported that the chromite ores estimated to be eight (8) tons were confiscated along the Guisguis road in Barangay Guinabon . They were loaded in a truck bearing Plate Number KDB 145 being driven by Mr. Rafael Mateo.

According to Mr. Mateo, he was only instructed by a certain Mr. Coshio, buyer of said minerals, to load the chromite ores in his truck. Mr. Cushio also told Mateo that said chromites were only samples and were taken from a permitted area. He was not aware that the minerals were taken from the mining area of A3 Una.

The team also reported that during their investigation, Mr. Pablo Pabilona arrived at the police station and presented to them a copy of their alleged permit and delivery receipt (DR) issued by the Office of Provincial Governor of Zambales. The team explained to Mr. Pabilona that the DR is only for sand and gravel and that an Ore Transport Permit (OTP) is needed if minerals are to be transported.

Mr. Pabilona explained that they were just transferring the mineral ores to their stockpile area and that no OTP is required. Engr. Fernandez informed him that under Philippine Mining Act, an OTP is needed for the transport of minerals from the mining area to the loading point/destination, and absence of such document is a prima facie evidence of illegal mining and will cause for the confiscation of the materials being transported.

The MGB immediately issued seizure receipts to Mr. Pabilona for the chromite ores and to Mr. Rafael Mateo for the hauling truck and turned them over to the office of Sta. Cruz Mayor Luisito Marte thru Mr. Perferio Mamerto, Chairman , Bantay Bayan, for custody.