IGaCoS expresses concern on treasure hunting activities

ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL- The City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) expressed apprehension over the reported illegal treasure hunting in some  places in the island during the meeting at the Liga ng mga Barangay Session Hall, Brgy. Penaplata, Samal District on August 20.

In the meeting, CDRRM Executive Officer Janus Rafailes and Liga ng mga Barangay Chairman Luduig Von Gervacio reported a retrieval operation of a dead  person  trapped  in a tunnel  in Purok 6, Sitio Tayapoc, Aundanao, Samal District last August 9.

Rafailes said  a concern citizen from the area reported that a person was trapped in a tunnel for five days. Thus, based on the given information, an assessment  and  retrieval operational  was   executed  by the composite team from the City Mayor’s Office CDRRM Division rescue team, Bureau of Fire protection and the Philippine National Police.

At 10:25 in the morning,  the dead body of Mr. John Mijares was found in prone position at about 200 feet deep in the tunnel, bloated and maggots found all over his body.

Rafailes said as per reported to him  Mijares was a self financing treasure hunter and had been furtively conducting his illegal activity in the area for five years and that his other companions had already left him alone.

The report raised alarm to the Council, since many punong barangays confirmed that they also observed treasure hunting and excavations in their area in searched for Yamashita treasure rumoured to be hidden somewhere in the island during WWII.

DILG- City Local Government Operations Officer Rosario Laid urged the Council to intercede on the illegal treasure hunting and or to impose the proper guidelines in the conduct of treasure hunting.

City Prosecutor Fiscal Neopito Magno, member of the council, shared the Presidential Decree  # 1726 guidelines on treasure hunting on government property and  the Civil Code of the Philippines on treasure found in properties belonging to private individual.  He highlighted as well the proper sharing of profits from the recovered treasure.

City ENRO Edgar Arellano expressed anxiety on the said the treasure hunting . He said the activity may pose danger to the aquifer for it may affect the water table.  He said the excavated hole can be the passage of pollutants going to the aquifers which may contaminate our water supply. The activity will also disturb the eco-system in the island because it will alter the natural formation of the earth and the plants surrounding the area thus may result to soil erosion and landslide.

Arellano said the illegal treasure hunting also posed hazard to the hunter since the practice doesn’t use proper equipments or gadgets that may cause danger or death. (MTA Samal Info)