By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Individuals responsible for the extraction of sand from the country’s shorelines for reclamation activities in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS) may be held liable for violating Philippine laws, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the sand dumping incident in the WPS is a violation of Republic Act (RA) 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and RA 120641 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
“Kung sinuman po ang lumabag dito, maaari po silang kasuhan ng paglabag sa RA 7942 at RA 120641 (Anyone who violates this can be charged with violating RA 7942 and RA 120641),” Castro said.
Castro said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources would discuss the matter with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the Philippine Coast Guard.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier ordered a thorough investigation into the dredging and reclamation activities in Philippine waters.
The Chief Executive’s directive comes after the NICA revealed that sand from the Philippines’ coastal areas was being used in China’s reclamation activities in the WPS.
Castro said she could not release additional details about the ongoing probe because of the sensitivity of the issue.
“Ito po ngayon ay may ongoing investigation. Hindi po na natin masasabi ang pinaka detalye nito dahil medyo sensitibo po ang mga issues dito (This is currently an ongoing investigation. We cannot give any further details because the issues here are quite sensitive),” she said. (PNA)
