The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) suspects that 11 Chinese nationals arrested in Paracale, Camarines Norte, may have been engaged in uranium mining. Dr. Winston Casio, PAOCC spokesperson, indicated that engineers suggested the technology the group was using could be suitable for uranium extraction, hinting they might have been after more than just gold. However, Casio noted that this suspicion has yet to be confirmed
The group was apprehended over the weekend for operating at an illegal mining site while only possessing tourist visas. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau has since closed off the area to further examine the extraction plant’s purpose.
Casio added that, while the company involved had an environmental compliance certificate, it appears they exceeded their licensed activities. Alongside immigration violations, authorities are now considering filing criminal charges against the suspects. The PAOCC is also investigating a local politician believed to have partnered with the group, potentially involving two foreigners as financiers and others as technical personnel.