CALOOCAN Bishop Cardinal Pablo David cited the urgent need for the so-called accountability amid the government’s failure to put the fire off at the Navotas City Sanitary Landfill.
The fire which broke out on April 10, has been emitting haze that was found “extremely poisonous.”
“When a landfill poisons the air, endangers water sources, displaces aquaculture, and becomes a recurring fire and disaster risk, the public is not just entitled to answers — it is entitled to justice,” Bishop David said in a statement.
He noted that under Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, any citizen may file a civil, criminal, or administrative action against violators, negligent officials, or agencies acting inconsistently with the law.
“The Navotas landfill fire demands more than concern. It demands accountability… Who will join our collective lawsuit?” added David.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau said that it is studying criminal, civil, and administrative cases against the former operator of the landfill.
The massive fire caused widespread air pollution in Metro Manila and Bulacan.