Manila, Sept. 2 -- Nineteen individuals were arrested on Monday in Agusan del Sur for violations of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

The suspects, all residents of Davao de Oro province, were caught transporting 76 sacks of illegally mined mineral ores on board three separate vehicles.

"They were intercepted by the personnel of the Second Agusan del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Bunawan Police Station at a checkpoint in Barangay Bunawan Brooks in Bunawan town," Maj. Jennifer Omiter, chief of the information office of the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13), said in an interview on Tuesday.

She added that the individuals failed to present legal documents allowing them to transport th...