Vico Sotto suspends 2 ranking execs for ignoring environmental violations

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto on Wednesday suspended two high-ranking officials of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) without pay, after several establishments were found to have been dumping waste water into the city's drainage.

In a post on his official Facebook page, Sotto said he had discovered a "suspicious trend" at the CENRO after several spot inspections.

"Multiple inspectors have reported that they are routinely told to look the other way after they find environmental violations," Sotto reported.

"If we want to clean our rivers, we need to be able to enforce environmental laws without fear or favor... without bribes and protectors," he added.

Sotto on October 8, his 100th day in office, ordered the closure of a meat processing plant discovered to be dumping sewage water containing pig blood into Pasig City's drainage system and streets.

"Dumidiretso sa drainage/ kalsada ng lungsod ang maduming tubig nila, madalas may kasama pang DUGO NG BABOY!! Wala silang STP o anti-pollution device na kailangan sa batas. Sanhi ang mga ganitong kalakaran ng polusyon at baha," Sotto said in a Facebook post.  

Sotto added that he was already looking for the CENRO official who last inspected the establishment. — Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News