Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro has concerned local officials to conduct an investigation to pinpoint the origin of the oil spill that occurred in the Cuyab-Tunasan River.
“The perpetrators of the oil spill should be charged. Any oil spill poses danger to the health and livelihood of Muntinlupa residents. We will help the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) in determining the origin of the oil spill,” he said.
The LLDA previously said it will conduct an investigation into the oil spill.
Earlier reports said several residents of Muntinlupa City experienced stomach pains and vomiting due to the stench coming from the river, which had bubbled and turned black.
Oscar Oquendo, head of the Muntinlupa City Disaster Coordinating Council, suspects that industrial companies in San Pedro, Laguna, took advantage of the recent rains and dumped oil into the river on Thursday.
Oquendo estimated that three to four drums of used oil were dumped into the river.
The Muntinlupa City’s Lake Management Office immediately put two improvised spill booms in the river and Villa Carolina Subdivision to contain the oil, which covered two and a half kilometers of the waterway.
Oquendo said the concentration of water lilies in the Cuyab-Tunasan River prevented the oil from flowing into the Laguna Lake. He added that the plants should be pulled out from the river to collect the oil.
San Pedro has ordered Oquendo to submit a report on the oil spill.
According to reports, two companies have been shut down after being found guilty of throwing oil into the river.