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DENR exec: Suspect to be charged for dumping chemicals in Batangas river
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is filing charges against the suspect who dumped chemical wastes into a river in Tuy, Batangas that created huge foam, photos of which had gone viral online after being shared by the police.
In a video message sent to reporters, DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said that one of the arrested individuals, land owner Romano Cabrera, 46, will face charges.
“Patong-patong na kaso ang kakaharapin ng may-ari nitong lupa na si Mr. Romano Cabrera dahil sa ginawa nitong paghuhugas ng mga gamit na drum dyan na may laman na chemical ng sabon,” he said.
Antiporda said they will file charges for his violation of the Philippine Clean Water Act and the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act.
“’Yung Republic Act 6969, ito po 'yung violation sa handling po ng hazardous waste at toxic substance,” Antiporda said.
“’Yun naman pong RA 9275, ito po ‘yung Clean Water Act dahil wala rin pong water discharge permit itong mga pinaghugasan ng gamit na drum na inaasahan pong bina-buy and sell nitong si Mr. Cabrera,” he added.
Aside from the DENR, the local government unit will also file charges against Cabrera due to lack of permits from the municipal government, according to Antiporda
DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau is currently inspecting the concerned body of water to determine the chemicals poured into it.
“Asahan po natin na maaaksyunan ito dahil grabe po ‘yung ginawang damage nito sa ating environment wherein naglutangan po ‘yung mga hito at igat dyan sa sapa na ‘yan,” Antiporda added.
On Wednesday, police had received a call from barangay officials that the suspects were throwing some chemical substance in the river.
The suspects, Cabrera and 38-year-old Mark Anthony Austria, were caught by the police cleaning 16 drums of chemical substance that was supposedly thrown in the river. They were arrested, reports said. —LBG, GMA News
