SAN
JOSE CITY, Nueva Ecija, February 11, 2013-Combined operatives of the provincial public safety company (PPSC),
the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources for the theft and illegall transport of
copper concentrates from nearby Nueva Vizcaya province.
Police Superintendent Pedro Soliba,
San Jose City police chief, identified the seven as Leonard Sanchez, 33, of Barangay Shellhouse,
Calaocan City; Yulito Palces, 53, of Barangay Alfonso, Concepcion, Tarlac; Martin Redera, 37, of B16L9 Area 3,
Dagat-Dagatan, Malabon City: Lope Amurao, 43, of Barangay Talisay, Tiaong,
Quezon; Jonny Abrego, 31, of Purok 2, Maag, San Isidro, Davao Oriental; and Jay
Laceda, 29, of 043 Cupang, Pandi, Bulacan and broker representative Ryan
Jayson, 27 of Imus, Cavite.
Superintendent Ricardo Villanueva,
PPSC company commander, said the suspects drove large container vans loaded with
suspected copper concentrates. When confronted by police, they failed to show
the original documents of the shipments.
Villanueva said prior to the
operation, they received information that vehicles from Nueva Vizcaya allegedly loaded
with copper concentrates and being escorted by heavily armed men will pass the
city.
Villanueva formed a team composed of
Senior Inspector Romel dela Vega and DENR forest ranger Alexander Domingo and
elements of the San Jose City police to conduct
checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay Sto Niño 2nd.
Dominic
Wood, a representative of the trucking company Neo Logic Logistics told police
the shipment came from Ocean Gold Mining located at Brgy Didipo, Kasibu, Nueva
Vizcaya and was about to be delivered at Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union.
The
two Toyota Hi-lux escorting the vans were also inspected.
Cases
for violations of Republic Act 7942 (Theft of Minerals) have been filed against
against the suspects by the San Jose City police before the city prosecutor’s
office, San Jose City. (Manny Galvez)
