The excavation site in sitio Cambiohan, barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City.
(CDN Photo/Norman V. Mendoza)
THE Lapu-Lapu City government has ceased issuing excavation permits to those who want to dig artesian wells following the discovery of unauthorized diggings in sitio Cambiohan, barangay Marigondon last Sunday.
Mayor Paz Radaza said the city government needs to secure clearance from the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) which is tasked by the National Water Resources Board to monitor water extraction activities in Cebu province.
Radaza said her office was informed by the City Hall’s Task Force Kalikasan that there were diggings done in sitio Cambiohan since last month.
PO3 Kent Lisen of the Marigondon police and task force member said they received a call about the diggings and went to the area to investigate.
He said they challenged John Mallo, one of three men at the excavation site, to present a permit for their activities.
He said there were jackhammers and other digging equipment along with the excavated soil and stones in the site. Lisen said the extracted soil was being sold as filling material.
Lisen said the hole was 30 feet deep and a meter wide and the workers had yet to dig a vertical tunnel.
He said they contacted the lot’s owner Angelina Soriano who told them that a friend paid for the digging activities.
Mallo declined to answer when questioned if they were digging for treasure.
He said they were just paid P150 and given free meals for digging a hole near Soriano’s home.
Lisen said no one in sitio Cambiohan wanted to talk about the digging. They did not raise a complaint to authorities about the noise created by the jackhammers and suction pumps at night.
Mallo said they will stop digging until the necessary permit is secured which is reportedly being processed at City Hall.
Lisen said he referred the incident to the DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
An MGB staffer allegedly told the police that any diggings for treasure needs a permit from the National Historical Commission (NHC).