Treasure hunt excavation in downtown area stopped

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Mayor Monico Puentevella has ordered a stop to the so-called 'treasure hunting' in Bacolod as the more  than 12 feet of excavation already posed danger to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) building, as well as to the residents in the area.

Puentevella on Saturday inspected the excavation site, located at the back of the CENECO main office. He was accompanied by Office of the Building Official head Isidro Sun Jr. and City Environment and Natural Resources Office head Max Sillo.

The indiscriminate diggings was reportedly aimed at exploring possible war-time treasures. The property is reportedly owned by Antonia Maravila, and is being administered by Bobby Go, whose wife is related to the former. 

Pastor Alladin Zanoni claimed to have applied for a permit for the exploration activity for one year from the National Museum.

The group believed that there are hidden treasures in the property, based on what their special gadgets have detected. They started digging the area last November and had commissioned a backhoe two weeks ago to excavate deeper.

CENECO general manager Sulpicio Lagarde then filed a complaint with Brgy. 26 Chairman Antonio Arroz.

Puentevella said the group should stop its digging activities because it has no permit for it, and that these posed dangers to CENECO and the residents. "We cannot allow this activity to hamper the operations of CENECO, which is a vital power (distribution) company," he said.

Sun, for his part, said the diggers do not have the technical knowledge on proper excavation. They have dug up a huge hole that almost covered the entire property, which is adjacent to the concrete walls of CENECO as well as residential houses, he said. The area now has loose soil, so the concrete walls of CENECO might cave in, thereby posing more dangers to the persons excavating there, he added.

The owners of the property, in turn, have reportedly promised to comply with the mayor's order to stop the excavation. — Danny B. Dangcalan (FREEMAN)