17 nabbed for illegal mining at PMA

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, Philippines – Seventeen persons were arrested for alleged illegal mining at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Lt. Col. Reynaldo Balido, PMA spokesman, said the suspects were collared near the Army detachment at around 4:30 p.m.

Chief Superintendent Elmo Sarona, Cordillera Administrative Region police director, said newly cut pine trees, assorted digging equipment and around 20 sacks of suspected gold ore were among those recovered from the suspects.

The PMA had been declared as a no-mining zone.