By Jay B. Laurnio Mayor Lord Arnel L. Ruanto of Infanta, Quezon clarifies issues surrounding quarrying operations and flood control measures...
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| Mayor Lord Arnel L. Ruanto of Infanta, Quezon clarifies issues surrounding quarrying operations and flood control measures amid circulating claims on social media. |
INFANTA, Quezon — Mayor Lord Arnel L. Ruanto is urging residents to be careful when consuming and sharing information online, especially on issues involving quarrying activities and flood control. The mayor issued the reminder following the circulation of videos and social media posts that he said contained information that was inaccurate and not verified.
Mayor Ruanto clarified that one of the widely shared videos being linked to Infanta does not fall within the municipality’s area of responsibility. He said the footage was taken in Barangay Banglos in neighboring General Nakar, as shown by the geographic coordinates and the provincial stamp visible in the video.
In his clarification video, Mayor Ruanto emphasized the importance of accuracy and verification before making public accusations. He said false or misleading information, when not corrected, can confuse the public and unfairly affect institutions and individuals.
“Nagpapaalala lang tayo na maging responsable sa impormasyong ipinapakalat, lalo na kung may malinaw namang ebidensya na puwedeng i-verify,” Ruanto said. “Hindi sakop ng Infanta ang video na iyon at malinaw ang coordinates kung sisilipin lamang. Tama ang maging mapagbantay at mapanuri, pero dapat tama rin ang impormasyong inilalabas sa publiko.”
Addressing concerns on enforcement and accountability, Mayor Ruanto said the local government is acting within its legal authority. He noted that all actions taken by the municipality are based on existing laws, local ordinances, and proper due process.
“Pinaiiral natin ang batas at due process dahil iyon ang tama at nararapat,” he said. “Kung wala tayong malinaw na ordinansa, maaari tayong kuwestiyunin sa legal na paraan ng mga operator. Kaya mahalaga na lahat ng hakbang natin ay may malinaw na batayan sa batas.”
The mayor reiterated his administration’s commitment to following the rule of law in all quarrying and mining activities. In 2025, he signed an executive order establishing the Bantay Quarry Council of Infanta to protect natural resources and promote responsible quarrying practices within the municipality.
Mayor Ruanto encouraged residents to report suspected illegal quarrying activities to the municipal government or the Bantay Quarry Council. He stressed that while public vigilance is welcome, accurate and verified information remains important in properly guiding communities and protecting shared natural resources.
The municipal government said it will continue to issue clarifications and updates through official channels as needed. Residents were reminded to verify information before sharing to help prevent confusion and unnecessary public concern.
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