CABANATUAN CITY – Police operatives impounded a Metro Manila bound bus while its driver and assistant were arrested for allegedly transporting 59 sacks of copper tailings on Saturday (May 12).
Supt. Ricardo Villanueva, head of the provincial public safety company, said that an Isuzu Truck Bus with license plate no. BVE-236, driven by a certain Jessie Domingo, 47, of San Antonio, Isabela was flagged down at 6:30 p.m. along national road in Barangay Tayabo, San Jose City.
This was based on information received by operatives regarding the transport of the said minerals.The copper tailings reportedly came somewhere in Isabela, he said.
“Several sacks of suspected copper tailings were found inside the bus upon initial ocular inspection,” Villanueva said.
Domingo and his assistant identified as Edemar Yozon,41, a resident of Agdangan, Isabela, was quoted as saying that the sacks contained only organic fertilizers.
They would not name the owner of the items, police said.
This, according to Villanueva, prompted them and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of Nueva Ecija North, to suspect that the materials were copper tailings. This was also confirmed by Forest Ranger Alex Domingo.
“The possessors were not able to present the necessary mining permits and other documents,” Villanueva said.
The bus and the alleged minerals were turned over to Cenro as Domingo and Yozon were charged of violating Sec. 103 of Republic Act 7942 before the City Prosecutors Office of San Jose.
