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Dec 2, 2011, 12:32:32 AM12/2/11

to Philippine environment conservation

Hazardous medical waste intercepted
from a report by Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 12/01/2011 9:49 PM | Updated as of 12/01/2011 9:49 PM
Hazardous medical waste

TARLAC, Philippines - Authorities intercepted 2 trucks carrying
hazardous medical waste in Tarlac province on Thursday.

The rotting garbage, composed of medical refuse, came from hospitals
in Metro Manila.

Based on a tip from an informant, an ABS-CBN News team followed one
dump truck from a waste treatment facility in Parañaque.

The truck went to the Metro Clark Landfill in Capas, Tarlac, where
police blocked its entry and asked if it had the required permit.

"Anong laman ng truck? Mga basura ho, galing sa mga ospital sa
Maynila," said one the dump truck's workers, Jonathan Lacerna.

When police checked the truck, they found rotting hospital waste,
human blood, and bloody hospital instruments.

"May nag-timbre kasi sa amin nito, kaya tiningnan namin kung totoo.
Ayun, positive nga," said Inspector Joel Maranion of the Tarlac
provincial police.

"Nakakadiri sa loob, puro dugo, may mga laman, inuuod," he added.

A foul smell was also coming from another parked truck.

"Hindi dapat binibiyahe ang hospital waste nang hindi tinutuyo o
tinitreat. Puwede itong magkaroon ng nakakahawang sakit," said Laura
Jean Abando, Environmental Management Bureau regional official.

"May criminal liability ang mga responsible rito," she warned.

The drivers and workers of both trucks admitted that they collected
the hospital waste from Chevalier Enviro Services in Parañaque.

Treated waste?

However, Chevalier denies violating any law.

"Sabi sa amin iyung problema lang ay may tagas yung truck. Pababalikin
na lang namin yung truck para ayusin yung tagas," said Chevalier
Enviro Services marketing official Nestor de Vera. "Treated lahat ng
waste namin, hindi lang maiwasan na may moisture ng kaunti."

Abando, however, believes that the hospital waste was not treated.
"Kapag ganyang basa pa, mapula pa ang dugo, obviously hindi treated
ito."

Police and the environment department will investigate Chevalier,
Metro Clark Landfill, and the truck company that transported the
hospital waste.

They may be held liable for violating the Toxic Substances and
Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act. - ANC