After 3 miners die in tunnel: Regulation of small-scale mining industry pushed

By Dexter A. See

ITOGON, Benguet — Regulation of the small-scale mining industry is now being pushed by concerned sectors. seven weeks after 16 miners were trapped inside the Antamok Goldfield tunnel here while three pocket miners were killed last week in the same mine complex due to gas poisoning.

The Nov. 9 accident has renewed focus on the problems facing the small-scale mining industry here that is providing livelihood to thousands of individuals in different parts of the province, as concerned sectors called on the government to regulate the lucrative but dangerous trade.

The three miners died inside a private mine tunnel owned by a certain Juanito Ansiong.

It is connected to the Antamok Goldfield mine tunnel, where 16 miners were trapped last September, killing six of them.

Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, regional police director, identified the fatalities as Virginio Alingjutan Singwa, 38, his brother Roel Alingjutan Singwa, 32, both natives of Mankayan, Benguet and Roger Rillera, 46, a resident of Upper Tram, Itogon, Benguet and a native of Bauang, La Union.

Investigation showed the three went inside the mine tunnel on Nov. 7 to gather gold ores.

However, Martin said their relatives got alarmed after the three never came out of the tunnel for three days, prompting the mine tunnel owner, in coordination with police operatives and rescue groups, to form a team to conduct search, rescue and retrieval operations last Sunday.

The rescuers were able to recover the bodies of the three men, all in an early state of decomposition.

Martin said the victims probably succumbed to gas poisoning inside the tunnel due to the alleged presence of poisonous gas which were not immediately detected by the miners.

The bodies were brought to a funeral parlor in nearby Baguio City for autopsy before they were brought home by their relatives.