QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya: The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has downplayed reports that the landslide, which claimed 10 lives during the onslaught of Typhoon “Ulysses” (international name: “Vamco”), was due to small-scale mining.

MGB Region 2 Director Mario Ancheta said the landslide near a London-based mining operation was attributed to the saturation of the soil, caused by the excessive water brought by the series of typhoons and not by the small-scale mining.