Three municipalities ignored the chance given to them by the Office of the Ombudsman to explain the illegal operation of dumpsites.
Because of this, the Ombudsman is now preparing the case that they will file before the Sandiganbayan to hold the said officials liable.
More than 40 local officials from Trece Martires and Ternate in Cavite and Taytay in Rizal will be facing possible charges in violation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000.
“For those that do not respect the process and did not gave any answer, we are proceeding with the cases with these officials,” said Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, Atty. Gerard Mosquera.
Under the R.A. 9003, no dumpsite must be established or operated by anyone especially local government units. All open dumpsites must be converted to a controlled dumpsite.
Last February, the Ombudsman requested for a comment and explanation of more than 90 local officials of LGUs regarding the operation of illegal dumpsite in their place.
Thirty investigators from the Environmental Ombudsman Team were sent to serve the order to mayors, vice mayors and members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Albay, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar, Leyte and Palawan.
“There has been many excuses: lack of budget, no ordinance and so on and so forth. Unfortunately, we have to point out to LGUs that these defenses are not found in the law and not valid defenses,” Mosquera said.
The local officials were given 30 days of non-extendable period to submit an explanation and a safe closure and rehabilitation plan including a proposal of urgent closure of an open dumpsite operating in their respective places.
Based on the complaint, mayors, vice mayors and members of the Sangguniang Bayan conspired to violate R.A. 9003 in their respective localities. — Mon Jocson / UNTV News & Rescue
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