Cagayan Gov. Manny Mamba denied the presence of black sand mining operations in the province, including Aparri.
Mamba stressed on Wednesday, March 15, that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) put a stop to the black-sand mining operations in Cagayan.
"Wala naman black sand mining sa Cagayan. Kung may black sand mining doon, it is off-shore. Ibig sabihin 15 kilometers away from the shore," Mamba said during DZRH's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
"Ang meron doon dredging," he added.
Mamba made the remark after the Philippine National Police (PNP) linked the murder of Aparri vice-mayor Rommel Alameda to black-sand mining operations in Cagayan.
PNP chief PGen. Rodolfo Azurin said that Alameda criticized the business of black-sand mining.
"Walang black-sand mining doon. Kaya ako nagtataka kung bakit iyon ang sinasabi ng pulis," the local chief executive responded to the statements of Azurin.
Alameda and five others perished after armed assailants ambushed him on February 19 in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.
