700 drums of suspected toxic waste found in Bulacan; 8 arrested
Dino Balabo
Philippine Star
PANDI, Bulacan – About 700 drums of suspected toxic waste were discovered by local police after the arrest of eight persons who were caught red handed while dumping the same in a vacant lot here over the weekend.
The discovery of the suspected toxic waste clandestinely stocked at a walled compound at Barangay Masuso came after incidents of toxic and industrial waste dumping in the towns of Marilao, Norzagaray, and the cities of San Jose del Monte and Meycauayan City.
It also confirmed that Bulacan has become the favorite dumping ground of hazardous and toxic industrial wastes by unscrupulous waste haulers which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have failed to regulate and monitor.
Chief Inspector Rene Casis, the chief of police of this town told The STAR that at least 300 drums of suspected toxic waste were found in a vacant lot owned by a certain “Fely” at Barangay Masuso, after they arrested eight persons while in the act of dumping toxic waste, and confiscated 48 empty drums and an Isuzu Elf Truck (UPY-188) and an Isuzu Forward Truck (RDP-829).
The arrested persons were identified as Jessie Camosco of Barangay Camanyangan, Sta. Maria town, and his helpers – Blandino Cabarles, Mark Alfred Cabarles, Michael Cabarles, Aram Estrella, Ronald Rogados, all of Barangay Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City; and Jefrey Timbang of San Miguel town.
Casis said they filed separate charges against the suspects for violation of the provision of RA 900 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and vowed to file another set of charges pending the results of laboratory tests conducted to determine if the waste were indeed toxic.
He said that the suspects hauled the suspected toxic waste from D&L factory based in Manggahan, Pasig City on Wednesday.
He also showed a delivery receipt presented by the suspects which was signed by a certain Ping Yu.
However, the suspects said they do not know that their cargo was toxic noting that it was their first time to deliver the same to Barangay Masuso.
Camosco, the driver of the truck told the STAR that a certain “Mang Jess” rented his truck from his boss whom he identified only as “Bong “ from Manila.
He said that “Bong” contacted a certain “Romy” who arranged for the dumping of the waste in the lot owned by a certain “Fely”.
Residents said that “Romy is the caretaker of “Fely”, the own of the lot.
When interview by The STAR, Pedro Avendaño, the chairman of Barangay Masuso said that the dumping operations in the area started less than five months ago.
Avendaño also said that contents of the drum were drained on a creek located at the northern end of the lot during rainy season.
But other residents said they have been complaining about the foul smell that emits as early as last year.
For his part, Mayor Roberto Oca Jr., told The STAR that he gave the police a week to complete their investigation and file charges against everyone who are involved n the operations.
He also said that the dumping of suspected toxic waste is an unfortunate incident in his town nothing that it is one of the poorest municipality in Bulacan.
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