DENR, cops implement search warrant vs DBSN
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-8 (Western Visayas) and the Leyte Police Provincial Office implemented a search warrant issued by the executive judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here on Friday, January 19, to excavate 30 sites where hazardous wastes were allegedly dumped by DBSN Corp. in its poultry farm in San Joaquin, Palompon, Leyte.
THE DENR-8 digs an area where hazardous wastes were allegedly dumped by DBSN Corp. in its poultry farm in Palompon, Leyte. (Photo via Marie Marticio)
The warrant, which alleged that DBSN violated Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018, was issued on January 16 with a 10-day validity based on the application of DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio.
The warrant claimed that the lot where DBSN was built lies on the Palompon Watershed Forest Reserve under Presidential Proclamation 212 and that the alleged dumping and burying of solid and hazardous wastes constitute a violation of RA 11038.
The team dug up at least three sites chosen by the DENR-8 Enforcement Division and collected water and soil samples.
DBSN has filed a motion to quash the search warrant and suppress any evidence obtained, claiming that there has been a misrepresentation by the DENR in the application for the search warrant.
It argued that the land in question is not a protected area covered by RA 11038 and two of the witnesses are not residents of Palompon nor employees of the farm that would enable them to have personal knowledge of any dumping activities in the area.
They also opposed another alleged attempt on Saturday, January 20, to enter and dig more holes in the area. DBSN claimed that the warrant had already been executed and DENR-8 could be making a fishing expedition.
In September 2023, the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 in Palompon issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on Claudio's order to excavate in the area.
DBSN is reputedly the largest single corporation in the Visayas and Mindanao with over 600 workers. It produces 100,000 eggs per day that in turn could yield 150,000 kilograms of chicken meat.