Cops foil dumping of hospital waste

CEBU, Philippines — Authorities seized five sealed drums containing suspected hospital waste from Mandaue City and arrested the truck driver during an operation in Barangay Lamesa, Balamban, on Monday night, July 6, 2026.

The suspect was identified as Antoniet Baynar Sillar, 31, a resident of Barangay Lamesa and the driver of a Canter truck. He is now under the custody of the Balamban Police Station and is set to face appropriate charges.

According to Major Ian Macatangay, chief of the Balamban Police Station, police officers, together with personnel from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), were conducting an operation against illegal quarrying and the illegal sale of sand and gravel in the area when they encountered the truck at around 9:30 p.m.

Macatangay said the officers noticed a strong foul odor coming from the vehicle, prompting them to flag it down and inspect it.

During the inspection, authorities discovered five sealed barrels containing what they believed to be hospital waste.

The driver told investigators that the medical waste came from a maternity hospital in Mandaue City.

Police then asked the driver to present permits and other documents authorizing the transport and disposal of the medical waste. However, he failed to produce any, leading to his arrest.

Macatangay said transporting medical waste without the required documents could pose risks to public health and safety.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine possible violations related to the transport and handling of the suspected hospital waste, as well as the liability of other individuals who may have been involved. — (FREEMAN)