‘Heads to roll’ over loss of Zambales soil

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has vowed to go after government officials responsible for the use of Zambales soil in the reclamation activities of China near the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, as exposed by Gov. Amor Deloso last week.

“I’ve heard of that, and that’s horrible… We’ll find out whoever gave the permits. If there are DENR officials involved, if they allowed that to happen, they would be made accountable and made to follow the due process of law. If it’s the government…[who was] remiss for another country taking our soil to use as their land, then heads should roll,” Environment Secretary Gina Lopez told a recent press briefing in Quezon City.

“That’s what [President] Duterte wants. So we’re going to find out. China can never be allowed to use our soil as their landfill. I don’t know how that even happens. We’re gonna look into this and make sure that never ever happens [again],” Lopez vowed.

Citing information from residents, Deloso disclosed that nickel mining firms would ship the soil from mountains in Sta. Cruz, Zambales, and then bring it to the reclamation projects near the shoal, instead of mainland China.

Lopez said Deloso’s claims would most likely be validated.  “If the truckloads [of soil] came from us, there should be a way… They probably left some kind of trail,” she said, noting that the excavations and the trucks used could be traced.

Lopez said the DENR had created a special team  led by new Environment Undersecretary Art Valdez to investigate the shipments.

Valdez said the DENR had deployed field officers and regional directors “to give feedback.”