Cimatu blames illegal mining for landslide victims in Cagayan

November 15, 2020

Environment secretary Roy Cimatu on Sunday said some of the landslide victims in Cagayan Region were in illegal mining sites during the onslaught of Typhoon "Ulysses."

“I was informed that there are casualties who died due to landslides because they are in a mining area… There's no mining area given permit except small-scale mining, this is illegal one,” Cimatu told President Rodrigo Duterte during the televised situation briefing in Tuguegarao City.

Cimatu said the place where the victims died was an illegal mining site.

“We have filed cases already and cease and desist order for these people. We will address this,” he said.

According to the secretary, around 10 people died due to landslides.

Duterte ordered Cimatu to investigate illegal mining sites in the region. Ella Dionisio/DMS