Bulacan, Feb. 22 -- Four persons were arrested for illegal quarrying of expensive volcanic rock in San Ildefonso town, this province on Wednesday.

In an interview on Thursday, Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Offices (BENRO) head Atty. Julius Victor Degala said personnel from BENRO and the Bulacan police conducted an anti-illegal quarrying operation in Brgy. Sapang Putik that led to the arrest of four suspects.

Arrested were Fernando Patac, 49, from Santa Maria; June Padilla, 45, from Marilao; and Rogie Remetio, 39, and Ginglebert Verde, 46, of San Ildefonso.

Seized from the illegal miners were 150 chisels, five bends, four shovels, three sledgehammers, two digging bars, and one water pump used to excavate volcanic tuff known ...