THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday announced the arrest of six individuals who were behind the illegal operation of a 1-hectare open dump in Bustos, Bulacan.
The six are facing charges of violation of Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Water Management Act of 2000, and RA 8550, or the Fisheries Code of the Philippines. They were identified as Jody Mendioro, Rodolfo Maniquis, Nestor Galves, Fernando Logronio, Juan Francisco Cruz and Cesar Ramirez.
The suspects have been presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice for violation of Section 37 (use of open dump) and Section 48 (transportation and dumping in bulk of collected wastes) of RA 9003 and Section 107 (aquatic pollution) of RA 8550.
Prior to the arrest of the suspects, the NBI received a complaint with regard to the illegal operation of an open dump in Barangay Tanawan, Bustos, Bulacan.
The agency immediately conducted a surveillance of the area and was able to confirm the existence of an open dump.
NBI Director Dante Gierran said the agency was able to verify from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau Region 3(DENR-EMB 3) that maintaining an open dump is illegal and that no permit, licenses or grants has been issued to any individual or entity allowing such operation.
The suspects were caught by operatives of the NBI and DENR while openly dumping waste materials and supervising the actual operation of the dump.
Operatives were able to seize a backhoe loader, mini dump truck and a loading bin from the site.
The suspects, who were identified as job order employees of the municipality of Bustos, Bulacan, claimed that the municipality through the mayor is operating the open dump.
The NBI pointed out that the open dump poses risks to human health and aquatic resources, since it’s just adjacent to Bustos River.