The Provincial Task Force created by Gov. George Arnaiz to monitor illegal quarrying activities in the province has seized five truckloads of sand in Tanjay City.

Provincial Attorney Erwin Vergara said the trucks were owned by the Tanjay City government who may now be held liable and asked to pay the fines for hauling quarry materials from the Tanjay River without the necessary permit.

Vergara said that the Tanjay local government had earlier applied for a special permit to re-channel a portion of the Tanjay River, specifically under a bridge, to prevent destruction of a concrete dike there.

The approval of the permit was put on hold as according to a national mandate, where a public structure is concerned, there should be an accompanying clearance from the government agency involved, Vergara said.

In Tanjay's case, the bridge was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the agency still has to issue a clearance, he added.

Furthermore, Vergara said that even with the special permit to re-channel a part of the river, the law states that no quarry materials will be taken out of that area and used for other purposes

. Vergara said reports had reached Capitol on Monday that at least three separate quarry hauls were made purportedly by the Tanjay government.

Acting on reports, the Provincial Task Force motored to Tanjay and "caught in the act" the five trucks hauling sand from Tanjay River, he said.

The apprehended trucks, owned by the Tanjay city government, were turned over to the Tanjay Police Station for impounding until the necessary documents were completed.

Vergara added about 13 truckloads of sand had been hauled for that day alone.

Meanwhile, Tanjay Mayor Baltazar Salma confirmed he had caused the release of the trucks because "they belonged to us" and they could not afford a delay in government projects undertaken by the Tanjay LGU.

Salma disputed Vergara's claims that their trucks were apprehended, but declined to further comment on the incident. *JSF

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