Three individuals were arrested for allegedly dumping human waste into a canal along Felix Avenue, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Cainta, Rizal, on Monday afternoon, according to Mayor Keith Nieto.

"We arrested them after we condemned them in flagrante delicto, committing that crime. They have been presented already to the prosecutor's office," Nieto told members of the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps during a group interview on Tuesday afternoon.

"With the lawyers that I called on to represent the government, I think they have already been in inquest. So, I don't know yet the result of the inquest proceedings," Nieto added.

The suspects were identified as Epifanio Glamayo, 55; Aljon Glamayo, 24; and Cedrick Anthony Peliño, 25 — all residents of Quezon City.

The suspects will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, and Municipal Ordinance 2023-012 or the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Code of 2023.

"Yung unlawful excretion, dislodging sa maling ano at saka yung hindi paggamit ng treatment facility para doon sa mga nakuhang human waste," Nieto said.

"Dapat nag-a-undergo 'yun ng treatment facility para ma-process mo 'yung kinuha mong dumi kasi it's a health risk kung pababayaan na sa canal mapupunta 'yan at sa mga imburnal natin," he added.

According to him, the human waste came from septic tanks of various establishments and was dumped into canals along highways.

"Well, I don't mention firms. Pero ito subtle 'yung kanilang way of doing it, naka-close van, tapos 'yung close van, nandun sa loob 'yung tank," Nieto said.

He said this was not the first time the incident had been reported to him.

"We were able to apprehend them finally kahapon. 'Yung iba nagkakaroon kami ng chase, hinahabol pero minsan hindi sila nahahabol," Nieto said.

"Parang ang feeling nila walang nakakakita. They just parked malapit sa manhole, tapos ilalagay nila 'yung pipe nila, naka-hose, itatapon nila 'yung laman. Imagine mo 'yung health hazard na ginagawa nila. Well, nahuli rin finally, and they are from Quezon City," the mayor added.

Nieto said he will file a civil suit against the company.

"Maybe P10 million to P15 million 'yung damage na ipa-file namin just to bring out strongly 'yung posisyon ng Cainta na 'wag niyo gagawin 'yan dito sa amin. Wala naman sa galang o hulog ang inyong ginagawa," he said.

The mayor said the human waste was discovered after he sent the vactor teams to open up a canal along Imelda Avenue and found freshly dumped human waste.

"So when I had it manned by our town security, they saw some, pero hindi nila nahabol. Pero ito kahapon nakuha namin talaga kasi very prompt 'yung aming town security to report it, kaya dumating kaagad 'yung mga pulis sa lugar," he said.

"Of course they will deny it. But we sent our MENRO [Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office] team to check 'yung mga binagsak nga doon. It's positive; it's human waste. So we had it certified already," the mayor added.

Nieto said they are very conscious of the issue, especially since Cainta often experiences flooding.

"Imagine mo 'yung havoc na puwede siyang mag-mix with flood water," the mayor added.