Bulacan governor to file charges vs those responsible for chemical spill

MALOLOS CITY — Bulacan Gov. Josie de la Cruz ordered yesterday the filing of criminal and civil cases against the driver and owner of the truck that allegedly dumped an unknown type of chemical in an irrigation canal in Marilao, Bulacan Tuesday, and the corporate owner of the factory that disposed the toxic wastes.

In a statement, the Bulacan provincial government said truck driver Lope Reyes, 28, of Sta. Maria Subdivision, Camarin, Caloocan City; Evelyn Sto. Tomas, the truck’s owner of Pleasant Subdivision in San Jose del Monte City; and CFS Corp. in Valenzuela City will be charged with violating Republic Act 6969, the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Control Act of 1990, and Provincial Environmental Ordinance No. 95-01.

A civil case will also be filed against them for damaging the environment, the statement added.

The Marilao police have already charged Reyes and Sto. Tomas of violating the Toxic Waste and Hazardous Act and the Clean Water Act.

In a statement, CFS Waste Management Corp. threatened yesterday to sue any person who tries to besmirch the firm’s reputation.

"Let it be known that (CFS) will not hesitate to file appropriate criminal and civil charges against unscrupulous individuals, groups or organizations who will attempt to besmirch the reputation and goodwill — and maliciously — (of CFS) officers and employees of any crime, wrongdoing or violation of environment laws," said Airiz Mae Landauz, CFS executive assistant.

Landauz said CFS was not the source of the chemicals unloaded into an irrigation canal in Barangay Prenza II in Marilao that eventually seeped into the Marilao River.

"For the record, CFS (for Cristina F. Santos) Waste Management Corp. is not involved or in any way responsible for the actions of those individuals apprehended by the authorities for alleged violation of environment laws," she said.

"These individuals are not under the employ or control of the corporation nor does the corporation own the vehicle utilized by these individuals, nor received orders from the corporation to unload chemicals into the waters of the Marilao River."

CFS vows full cooperation to facilitate fact-finding efforts of government and non-government agencies, Landauz said.

Meanwhile, environment officials allayed fears yesterday that the unknown substance dumped in an irrigation canal in Barangay Prenza II in Marilao, Bulacan Tuesday would affect other areas if Typhoon "Reming" would cause heavy rains.

Lormelyn Claudio, Environmental Management Bureau director for Central Luzon, said in a telephone interview yesterday that at least 6,000 liters of toxic chemical that flowed downstream in the Marilao River have been collected.

"Kaunti na lang ang natitira," she said.

What remain would hardly affect residents, she added. — Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu, Jerry Botial