PAOCC: 'Highly possible' 11 arrested Chinese nationals in Paracale were mining for uranium

It is highly possible that the 11 Chinese nationals who were arrested in Paracale, Camarines Norte were attempting to mine uranium, an official of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Tuesday.

PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio said they were told by engineers that the extraction technology of the foreigners could be used to extract uranium. He also said there were also possible sources of uranium in the area.

“Kung kaya po, gawa ng iba ang teknolohiyang ginamit nitong grupong ito, it’s highly possible na hindi lang gold ang kanilang hinahanap kung hindi maging uranium deposits,” he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(Because the technology used by the group was not ordinary, it is highly possible that they were not only looking for gold but also for uranium deposits.) 

“As of this point, hindi pa naman po confirmed ‘yan. Kaya lang nasabi ng engineer na tumingin niyan sapagkat ‘yung technology na ginamit ay pu-puwedeng magamit for uranium extraction,” he later added.

(As of this point this is not yet confirmed. But according to the engineers, the technology being used could be for uranium extraction.)

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), uranium can be used to power commercial nuclear reactors that produce electricity. It also used to produce isotopes used for medical, industrial, and defense purposes around the world.

Authorities arrested the 11 Chinese nationals over the weekend for working in an illegal mine site and for having only tourist visas.

According to Casio, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau had closed off the area.

“Kinakailangan ho natin mag-request sa kanila na tignan ng mabuti kung ano nga ba talaga ang purpose nung extraction plant na ito,” he said.

(We need to request for them to look into the purpose of the extraction plant.)

Casio said the company has the necessary environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to operate, but it has expanded beyond the coverage of the license.

The arrested Chinese nationals have already undergone inquest proceedings for immigration violations. Casio said authorities are also eyeing to file criminal complaints against them.

Casio said they are also investigating a local politician who may be the Chinese nationals' business partner. He said the politician hired two of the foreigners as business financiers while the rest were hired as technical experts and workers for the mineral processing plant. —KBK, GMA Integrated News