Photo courtesy of PNP/Facebook.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Wednesday that a joint law enforcement and environmental operation halted alleged illegal mining activities in Libona, Bukidnon, leading to the arrest of seven foreign nationals.
According to the PNP, the operation was conducted on Feb. 9, 2026, in Zone 6, Sitio Manlauyan, Barangay Gango, where authorities uncovered an underground tunnel believed to have been used for unauthorized copper extraction.
Police said the site contained heavy equipment, including dump trucks, backhoes, generator sets and ore-processing facilities, suggesting large-scale mining operations.
Commercial explosives without proper permits were also found during the raid, prompting the deployment of police explosive ordnance disposal units to secure the area and prevent potential hazards.
The seven suspects, identified as Chinese, were taken into custody and are facing possible charges related to illegal mining and violations of environmental and explosives regulations.
The operation was led by the National Bureau of Investigation–Northern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-NMRO), in coordination with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Libona Municipal Police Station.
The PNP said further investigation is ongoing to identify other individuals involved in the mining activity, including possible financiers and operators behind the site.