The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seeks an explanation from Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte regarding reports of alleged illegal waste dumping outside DENR’s Region XI office in Lanang. DENR Region XI Regional Executive Director Mercedes Dumagan sent a letter dated June 15 to the mayor, asking for clarification after DENR personnel caught individuals dumping mixed waste in front of the agency’s premises. DENR also files a complaint against the vehicle owner identified through CCTV footage showing the unloading of mixed waste at the site.
According to the DENR-initiated report, some of the individuals apprehended cited the mayor’s June 4 Facebook post in which the area was described as a temporary waste location. The DENR action is presented as a response to the dumping incident and the claims linked to the mayor’s post, while the complaint against the vehicle owner is intended to address the reported illegal act. The matter centers on whether waste dumping is being carried out properly and whether any guidance from public statements is being used to justify the disposal at the DENR office site.
