ILOILO – Residents of Barangay Pasong in Igbaras town want the excavation for alleged treasures on a private lot in their village stopped.
On their behalf, Mayor James Esmeralda said, he would be writing a letter to the treasure hunting permit holder he identified as Noly Laquihon Bayogos.
“Barangay officials and residents worry about the geological hazards that may result from the excavation,” said Esmeralda.
The villagers’ concerns must be addressed before the excavations could continue, he stressed.
Nine houses are near the private lot where the diggings are taking place and their owners are apprehensive, according to Esmeralda.
He recently sought the help of the provincial government to verify the authenticity of the permit for the excavation supposedly from the National Museum of the Philippines.
Another option, said Esmeralda, is to seek the court’s help.
“Makadto kami sa korte kag mangayo sang search warrant para makita namon personally ang extent sang ila obra kay subong wala gid sang tawo nga makasulod didto,” said Esmeralda.
It was previously reported that the National Museum of the Philippines confirmed having issued a “Treasure Hunting and Disposition of Recovered Treasures Permit” covering a private lot in Barangay Pasong.
It may cancel the permit if the conditions for its issuance were not met, said Atty. Ma. Cecilia Tirol, acting deputy director-general for administration of the National Museum.
“I already asked the chief of the National Museum’s Cultural Properties Regulation Division to evaluate if kinahanglan i-cancel ang permit. I-cancel ina kun damo violations,” said Tirol.
Some residents said the diggers were looking for the buried gold treasures of World War 2 Japanese general Tomoyuki Yamashita.
“We have rules. The permit may be cancelled if the excavation has adverse environmental impacts and endangers neighboring areas. It is within the powers of the museum to suspend or revoke the permit when public interest so requires or upon the failure of the permit holder to comply with the terms and conditions,” said Tirol.
As far as the municipal government of Igbaras and barangay council of Pasong were concerned, said Esmeralda, they have not issued any permit for treasure hunting, ground excavation or mining in the village./PN
