ANTIPOLO CITY (February 10, 2004)—Mines and Geosciences Bureau-CALABARZON recently stopped a New Zealand national from undertaking unauthorized treasure hunting and digging operations in Barangay Inarawan here.

MGB-CALABARZON Director Salvador G. Martin said a cease and desist order (CDO) dated January 19, 2004 was issued to a certain Owen Frederick Hicks, following investigations confirming his treasure hunting activities without permit.

“Our men found a series of underground tunnels connected to an existing deep well within the premises of Mr. Hicks, who also admitted that the tunnels are for treasure hunting,” Martin said. “MGB records disclosed that no treasure hunting permit was issued to Hicks.”

MGB last month dispatched a combined MGB Central Office and CALABARZON Region investigation team to probe into complaints lodged by Antipolo City residents against mysterious digging operations allegedly being undertaken inside the premises of a residential lot in St. Anthony Subdivision, Phase 2, Barangay Inarawan.

Upon investigation, the MGB Team found a loop-forming series of horizontal tunnels measuring 1m, 5m, 9m, and 14m excavated perpendicular to an existing deep well within Hick’s property.

Hicks immediately admitted that he has been intermittently undertaking digging activities for almost a year now.

Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2002-04, which provides guidelines for the recovery and disposition of hoarded hidden treasures from private and public lands, a Treasure Hunting Permit must be secured from the DENR and MGB.

The guidelines also provide for a sharing scheme among the government, the permit holder, and land owner for positive finds from treasure hunting activities done in private lands.