Bataan, Albay LGU execs face raps over dumps

MANILA, Philippines — Criminal and administrative charges have been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against local government officials of Bataan and Albay over the illegal operation of dumps.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) filed charges for violation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act against Lilver Roque, former mayor of Limay, Bataan; former municipal planning and development officer Romario Panangui, former municipal environment and natural resources officer Randy Cacho and Danilo Quinto, general services office chief.

Also charged were Mayor Cielo Kristel Lagman-Luistro of Tabaco City, Albay, and city environment and natural resources officer Reynold Martirez.

The NSWMC said the respondents should also be held liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.

The DENR had earlier said a solid waste processing facility in Barangay St. Francis 1 in Limay operated as a dump. When it was ordered closed, the local government opened another dump in Barangay Alangan.

The NSWMC said the Albay city government operates a dump in Barangay San Vicente, where two temporary residual containment areas were also built.