Mayor Teodoro offers P200,000 reward for information on culprit behind dead pigs at Marikina river
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2019 09:23:53 +0000
THE Marikina City government has offered a P200,000 cash reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the culprits behind the dumping of 58 pig carcasses in Marikina River.
In a statement, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the reward was coming from his own pocket.
“Kailangan conclusively dapat iyong info. Iyong sa mismong magkakapagturo ng gumawa ng pagtatapon (The info should be conclusive. The one who could point a finger at the culprit),” he said.
The mayor said that the local government would also file a Writ of Kalikasan before the Marikina Regional Trial Court (RTC).
Teodoro said those who responsible for dumping the 58 pig carcasses would face criminal and civil charges, as well as cases of violation of clean water act, and sanitation law.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar had said that the culprits also violated the Solid Waste Management Act and would be punished with a fine of not less than P300 but not more than P1,000 or render community service for not less than one day to not more than 15 days.
The suspected backyard raisers will also face charges for violating the Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act “as they deprived their dead pigs of adequate care, maltreating them in the process.” Violators are punishable by imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than two years or a fine of not less than P1,000 nor more than P5,000.
Following the incident, a team composed of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and Marikina LGU took water samples from five areas along the Marikina River to check for possible contamination.
These are at the Roman Garden in Marikina; Circulo Verde in Eastwood, Quezon City; Barangay Calumpang; Barangay Tumana; and Barangay Nangka.
The Marikina City government also submitted fish samples to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Central Office to check its bacteria level and determine whether or not fish caught in the river were safe for human consumption. EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ