DENR exec sees possible sabotage in Manila Bay fish kill amid rehabilitation

Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda on Friday said they are not discounting sabotage in connection with the recent fish kill in Manila Bay amid the ongoing rehabilitation project there.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Antiporda said the site of the fish kill, Baseco Compound, was far from the Manila Bay area where crushed dolomite rocks are being poured on the shoreline to give it a "white sand" effect.

Aside from possible sabotage by anti-government groups, Antiporda said they are also looking into possible illegal fishing in the area.

"Hindi po bago ang ganung pangyayari (fish kill) but still we are not discounting the possiblity na maaaring meron na namang nag-illegal fishing, gumamit ng cyanide or meron pong sumasabotahe sa atin just to discredit the government," he said.

According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the fish kill was a result of low oxygen level in the sea.

Meanwhile, Antiporda also denied critics' claim that the crushed dolomite would be washed away to sea during heavy rain.

"Hindi yan guguho, yung pinalalabas ng mga kritiko na guguho iyan, hindi po ganun," he said.

"Huwag ipilit ng hindi nakakaalam sa proyektong ito." —KBK, GMA News