GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Illegal small-scale mining operations and loose firearms have proliferated within the controversial multibillion-peso Tampakan project site, Southeast Asia's largest undeveloped copper-gold minefield, officials said. Efren Carido, director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), said Tuesday that authorities have uncovered illegal small-scale mining operations at the project site in Tampakan town in South Cotabato province.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1755140/armed-illegal-miners-thrive-in-tampakan

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