Barangay captain admits Itogon mining illegal

The barangay captain of Ucab in Itogon, Benguet admitted on Monday that mining in their area was illegal as miners did not have official permits from the government.

"Kung sa amin masasabi, matagal na trabaho nila 'yan pero wala kaming papel sa gobyerno. Inaamin namin na illegal pero 'yun naman ang ikinakabuhay namin," Kennedy Waclin said on GMA News TV program "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" on Monday.

"Kung pwede sana iregulate nila ang minero para hindi huminto. Pag huminto 'yan pano ang tao, seven barangays 'yan ang ikinabubuhay," Waclin added.

Itogon councilor Arnel Bangawan earlier speculated that small scale mining in the area could have been a factor in the landslide that overwhelmed a mining camp in the area.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has ordered a crackdown on illegal small-scale mining operations in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) following the landslide.

President Rodrigo Duterte had said he wanted to close all mines in the country following the deadly incident. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA News