ARAYAT -- Mayor Luis "Chito" Espino ordered Thursday the creation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the alleged illegal treasure hunting activity at Mt. Arayat in Barangay San Juan Baño.

This, following the confiscation of various digging tools allegedly recovered from 10 suspected treasure hunters on November 1 by employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local police and personnel of the 703rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

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Espino, in a phone interview with Sun.Star Pampanga Thursday, said the fact finding team will consist of members of the Municipal Council headed by Vice Mayor Larry Trinidad, Municipal Environmental Officer Ramon Changcoco and the newly assigned chief of police, Superintendent Elvis Diaz.

"Binuo natin ang fact finding committee na ito para makapagbigay linaw sa nagaganap na illegal treasure hunting sa bundok ng Arayat. Nais nating malaman kung ano ang katotohanan dito at kung sinu-sino ang mga involved pa dito, bagamat may mga suspects na ang kapulisan ay nais pa natin pag-aralan kung anong kaso ang puwede natin isampa sa korte laban sa kanila (suspected treasure hunters)," Espino said.

He added that the fact-finding team will be transparent in their investigation, saying they will be "fair and just," and that he will not meddle in the investigation to give the committee a free hand in pursuing an independent investigation.

Espino also said based on eyewitness reports, a huge hole spanning approximately 40 feet deep was uncovered near the foot of the mountain near the Delta Dam by a concerned resident of San Juan Baño, who reported it to DENR employees Amador Bernardo and Jose Mallari.

The mayor also said if there were probable cause, he is urging the DENR and PNP to file appropriate charges against the suspected treasure hunters, adding the LGU will wait for the result of the fact finding committee report, if there is a need for the LGU to file separate charges.

Outgoing Arayat Police Chief Superintendent Luisito Magnaye earlier said the two DENR employees immediately informed the police, army soldiers and Barangay Chairman Jesus Delos Santos who rushed to the dig site and confiscated three shovels, roll cable wiring, two electric flashlight, one water pump machine, one gas stove, gas tank, plastic jar, chain block, kitchen utensils, one can of biscuit, plastic can with gasoline, assorted can goods, bolo, nylon rope, plastic hose, small chain block and assorted clothes.

Magnaye said the suspected treasure hunters were at the scene and were accosted by authorities to the police station for questioning.

At the height of Typhoon Ondoy last September 27, a mudslide occurred at the foot of Mt. Arayat in Barangay San Juan Bano were 12 people mostly women and children were buried alive, destroying 50 houses and displacing 2,000 individuals. (Chris Navarro)