The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will investigate the alleged dumping of human waste by Chinese vessels into the West Philippine Sea.
In today’s (July 14) Laging Handa public briefing, DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said they have coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard and are set to do likewise with the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to verify the report.
“We need to validate kung totoo nga po ito. We also need to check kung talagang Chinese vessel ‘yan,” he said.
Antiporda said an investigation must be conducted to protect the Philippines’ biodiversity. However, he said he was doubtful about the photo that showed the dumping of waste.
“Ang tingin po natin diyan, most probably, oil spill ‘yun or something which is not human waste. Doon po, medyo may pagdududa tayo,” he said.
Antiporda added the person who reported the photo admitted that the photo caused a “confusion” and apologized for the matter.
“Kahapon po, nag-apologize na po ang nagpalabas ng research na ‘yan [at] sinasabi niya na [nag-cause ng] confusion [ang] ginawa niya, dahil ang litratong inilabas niya is taken from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.”
He said they will also look at the “motive” of the report for bringing it up on the same day of the WPS ruling anniversary.
Simularity, Inc. founder and COO Liz Derr initially reported that Chinese vessels have been dumping human waste in the West Philippine Sea for years.
(PTV News)/NGS- jlo
