SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — Four Japanese treasure hunters and 13 Filipino workers were arrested Thursday by local police while conducting unauthorized treasure hunting on Capones Island in Barangay Pundakit here.
San Antonio Police officer-in-charge Senior Insp. Jonathan Bardaje on Thursday identified the suspects as Domyo Ukari, 56, a native of Kagoshima; Shinchi Kawano, 44, of Kanagawa; Mori Eizo, 60, of Tokyo; and one 15-year-old Japanese boy, a native of Kawagoe Shi, Saitama, all in Japan.
The Filipinos who were arrested were Lloyd Marlo Cerezo, 22; Arnold Argel, 23; Rexy Maycong, 21; Rodrigo Castro, 58; Luis Cerezo, 39; Lymar Cerezo, 20; Reggie Maycong, 25; Noel Flores, 29; and Jason Ebalane, 27, all of Cawag, Subic town.
The others were Gregorio Domingo, 34; and Effer Tolentino, 24; both from Balaybay, Castillejos town; and Espiridon Gumacao, 62; and Ronald Gonzales, 48, both from Olongapo City.
Initial investigation showed that at about 5 a.m. Thursday, elements of the San Antonio municipal police, Zambales’ 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office checked on the reported illegal mining on Capones Island.
The authorities arrived at the site at about 6:30 a.m. and were able to apprehend the suspects, who were digging at the west side of the island, some 50 meters southeast of the lighthouse that was manned by government personnel.
Bardaje said that based on the depth of the tunnel, which was about 16 feet, the suspects have been operating on the island for more than a month now.
Confiscated from them were one compressor; a generator set; two metal detectors; a jack hammer; and assorted mining equipment.
All the suspects, except the minor, have been detained at the police station here. They are facing charges of illegal mining, malicious mischief, and violation of municipal ordinance on Marine Protected Area.
San Antonio Vice Mayor Lugil Ragadio said Capones Island, declared as a Marine Protected Area through municipal ordinance 12-056 dated Feb. 13, 2012, is a favorite tourist destination in Zambales province, especially during summer.
In an interview with reporters, one of the Filipino suspects, who asked not be named, admitted that they were looking for treasure in the area and were being paid PHP1,000 a day by the Japanese. (Ruben Veloria/PNA)
