'Treasure hunting' in Talisay, Cebu stopped by LGU

The city government of Talisay, Cebu has temporarily shut down an alleged  “treasure mining” activity being conducted by a resident in the area.

According to a report of GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak’s Fe Marie Dumaboc on “24 Oras,” neighbors of suspect Nestor Canunayon in Barangay Cadulawan complained of his noisy drilling activities at night, prompting authorities to conduct an inspection.

“Umabot sa istorya na natatakot na sila dahil sa ingay, ngayon lang April may naririnig silang ingay sa ilalim ng lupa na parang dumadagundong. Baka may nata-trabaho, may naghuhukay,” said Barangay Cadulawan Chairperson Josefina Concial.

(The residents were getting scared of the loud noise.)

Informants told the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) and the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMO) that the suspect began the excavation in 2005 to construct a septic tank but is now searching for a  “treasure."

“Sabi niya septic tank, pero ngayon iba na ang pinaghukay niya na taga-Naga. Ginto umano, treasure umano,” Timmy, an informant, said.

(He told us it was for a septic tank but now, he hired someone from Naga to continue the excavation…It was for gold or treasure, apparently.)

Canunayon denied the allegations and said the drilling was for a deep well for his piggery.

“Hindi ako naghahanap ng treasure…Sinimulan ang hukay mahigit isang buwan na. Gumawa kami ng deep well para sa supply sa tubig ang baboy. Sa lalim ng eight meters may nakita na kaming tubig, kaya huminto na kami,” he said.

(I am not searching for treasure. We started the excavation for over a month now and we’re digging a deep well for the water supply of my piggery. We found water about eight meters deep so we stopped.)

The DENR said treasure mining is “possible” because of the reported tunneling activities they would have to verify first.

Meanwhile, the Talisay City government ordered a suspension of the excavation after finding out Canunayan doesn’t have proper clearances from the barangay. Local officials will also be stationed in the area to ensure the drilling activities will not continue.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News