NBI raid exposes permit lapses at three Buenavista gold-processing sites

By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino A tailings pond at a mining site in Barangay Bulo, Buenavista, where Mayor Reynaldo Rosilla Jr. recently ...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino

A tailings pond at a mining site in Barangay Bulo, Buenavista, where Mayor Reynaldo Rosilla Jr. recently raised concerns over possible environmental violations following the Sept. 3 raid. (ReyJr Esquerra Rosilla)

BUENAVISTA, Quezon — A recent enforcement operation against mining and gold-processing activities in Barangay Bulo has put Buenavista’s small-scale gold sector under scrutiny over permits, environmental compliance and the livelihood of hundreds of workers. NBI agents, assisted by mining and environment officials, police and military personnel, seized about 500 sacks of processed and unprocessed gold ore together with mining and mineral-processing equipment.

Workers bore the immediate impact as authorities halted activities and brought miners to the NBI office in Lucena City for investigation. Reports differ on the number involved, with one account placing 34 miners under arrest while another said around 40 workers were taken to NBI headquarters.

The operation was reportedly conducted under Search Warrant No. 2026-34 issued by the Regional Trial Court in Gumaca on Aug. 28, alongside regulatory action by the DENR-MGB. Published accounts identified La Suerte Mining Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Buenavista Gold Processing Plant as subjects of the operation, while another report also listed Grande Multi-Purpose Cooperative among those affected.

Buenavista Mayor Reynaldo E. Rosilla Jr. said the municipal government did not organize the raid and only coordinated with the NBI when agents arrived to implement the search warrant. He said municipal officials could not prevent national authorities from serving a judicial warrant without risking accusations of obstructing the operation.

“Hindi po kami nag-conduct ng raid; nakipag-coordinate po kami,” Rosilla said. “Hindi ko po puwedeng harangin iyong kanilang gagawing pag-conduct ng search warrant dahil maaari pong palabasin na protector tayo ng mga illegal na minahan.”

Rosilla said the mining and processing operations were being questioned over permits or clearances from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board, DENR-MGB and the municipal Business Permit and Licensing Office. A Sept. 8 report also said the Buenavista Gold Processing Plant was subject to a DENR-MGB cease-and-desist order, although the actual order has not surfaced in publicly searchable records reviewed for this story.

MGB records show La Suerte and Grande previously held small-scale mining contracts in Buenavista that were approved in January 2020 and listed as expiring on Jan. 29, 2022. The historical records do not establish whether either cooperative had secured a valid renewed contract when the Sept. 3 operation was conducted.

Republic Act No. 7076 requires small-scale miners to operate under contracts awarded through the mining regulatory board and sets separate requirements for mineral-processing facilities. The permit status of both the mining operations and processing plants has therefore become a central issue in the investigation.

Rosilla rejected suggestions that his administration opposed mining and said operators should instead comply with permits and safeguards required by law. He maintained that mining could continue as an economic activity provided companies and cooperatives fulfilled their responsibilities to regulators and surrounding communities.

“Hindi po ako against sa mining, iyan ang totoo, but doon po ako sa responsible mining,” Rosilla said. “Pag sinabi po nating responsible mining, ibig sabihin iyong mga operators dapat po ay nag-aayos ng kanilang mga permit.”

The mayor also cited complaints involving river water discoloration, reported fish deaths and concerns over a tailings pond near the processing area. No publicly released laboratory finding has established that mine chemicals caused the reported environmental incidents.

Livelihood concerns intensified after the operation as miners and their families gathered outside the Buenavista Municipal Hall and appealed for fair enforcement and an opportunity to address documentary requirements. Reports estimated that about 500 miners depend on the affected operations and that as many as 600 families could face income losses while the sites remain closed.

Rosilla later went to the NBI office to check on workers taken from the sites and asked whether anyone had been injured, mistreated or deprived of food. He said the workers he spoke with reported that they had not been harmed and had been provided food while authorities processed their cases and documents.

As of Sept. 8, one report said the NBI was preparing complaints involving alleged violations of the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act while police and military personnel continued guarding the affected mining areas. No searchable official response from La Suerte, Grande or the Buenavista Gold Processing Plant to the allegations surfaced in the material reviewed for this update.