FIFTEEN persons, including two foreign nationals, were charged before the Iloilo City Prosecutor's Office last August 27 for violations of the City Regulation Ordinance 147 in relation to anti-littering provisions.
City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Noel Hechanova, assisted by anti-littering enforcement agents and lawyer Daniel Dinopol, who is representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Iloilo chapter, filed the charges against the violators.
Hechanova said the City Government is serious in implementing the law and in filing the cases before the office of City Prosecutor Jeremy Bionat against violators of the anti-littering law.
The IBP has trained the enforcement agents with a paralegal training and orientation on the process of filing charges before the prosecutor's office and eventually the court.
The city prosecutor is expected to issue a subpoena notice to the violators to appear at his office and answer the charges. If they fail to appear, a warrant of arrest will be issued against them for failing to follow the fiscal's order.
More than 40 violators were caught red handed in littering of their garbage. They were issued citation tickets. Most of the violators paid the penalties of P500 each at the City Treasurer's Office.
However, the 15 refused to pay. They were identified as Chinese national Chang Zhen Chen of Sentak Marketing; Swiss national Mankus Eugen Drenneisen of Villa Rosario Subdivision; and Iloilo City residents Ricardo Calaguio of Nathan Vulcanizing, Jaro; Jose Allona of Ticud La Paz; John Michael Tayson Nava of Fundidor, Molo; Rey Sugapo of MH del Pilar, Jaro; Mark Bitongan of Calubihan, Jaro; Ronald Bonifacio of Ungka, Jaro; Veronica Regos of Camp Jefferson, Rudy Lozada of Kasing-kasing, Molo; Michelle Salazar of Baldoza, La Paz; John Red Tolentino of Benedicto, Jaro; Michael Flores of Pueblo Concepcion, Mandurriao; Ronald Lauron of General Santos, Mindanao; and Leonard Sazon of Dumangas Iloilo. (Lydia C. Pendon)