Cops nab 2 men for dumping toxic chemicals into Batangas river

Tuy Municipal police arrested two men after dumping toxic waste into the river in Batangas. /Tuy MPS

MANILA, Philippines — Elements of Batangas provincial police officers arrested two suspects for allegedly disposing toxic chemicals into a river in Batangas on Wednesday that brought about foul-smelling foams, police said Thursday.

A report from Tuy Municipal police station identified the suspects as Romano Cabrera, 46, and Mark Anthony Austria, 38.

Police said they received information from officials of Barangay Sabang in Tuy, Batangas that Cabrera and Austria were throwing toxic waste into the river in Barangay Bayudbud at 4:30 p.m.

Upon arrival, law enforcers spotted the suspects cleaning 16 drums that contained the chemical substance.

Complaints for violation of Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990 and Ecological Solid Waste Management Program are being prepared against them.

Foul-smelling foam from the alleged toxic chemical dumped into a river in Batangas. /Tuy MPS

In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, Police Staff Sergeant Benidick De Jesus said they sent the samples of the toxic chemicals to the environment office of Batangas province for inspection.

“Ipinadala sa MENRO (Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office) ng province of Batangas para macheck kung ano yung chemical,” he said.

JE

Tuy Municipal police arrested two men after dumping toxic waste into the river in Batangas. /Tuy MPS