Subic Bay Tourism Bureau

MASINLOC, Zambales: Eighty (80) Chinese national working in a mining firm in Masinloc Zambales, was put “on hold” by the Philippine National Police Friday.

Police Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago, Zambales provincial Director for the Philippine National Police confirmed that 80 Chinese national was in the vicinity of Coto Mining Inc. (CMI) located in Barangay Taltal Sito Coto, Masinloc Zambales.

Santiago said that 70 out of the 80 Chinese miners were unable to present any working permit.

Santiago said that they discovered the Chinese national during their inspection of the area after they received reports that illegal mining of chromite was being conducted.

“We will let them stay in the fenced area of the mining site until we talk to the Bureau of Immigrations, until then they will stay there, we will put them on hold.” He added.

“It is up to immigration what to do with them,” Santiago said.

Police had to restrict them knowing that they allegedly violated the law in the Philippines, Santigao further explained.

Local miners in the area said that some of the Chinese national working in the area had been working since last year.

The discovery stemmed from the order of Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr’s. order to crack down on illegal mining in the province.

The mining site, according to Santiago was being operated by a certain Companhia Minera Tubajon Incorporated (CMTI) owned by a certain Arsenia Lim.

CMTI according to Santiago was allegedly mining and exporting Chromite to China without any Ore Transport Permit (OTP) and Mineral Ore Export Permit (MOEP).

Olongapo City and Subic Freeport was also left without power midnight Wednesday after strong winds from Tropical storm Basyang hit central Luzon Tuesday evening.

Basang who is expected to be at 400 km Northwest of Iba, Zamables tomorrow morning and at 760 km North Northwest of Iba, Zambales by Friday morning.

Written by subictimes