Truck with medical waste from Mandaue hospital stopped in Balamban

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A truck, carrying five sealed barrels containing medical waste, was intercepted by authorities in Barangay Lamesa, Balamban town in western Cebu, on Monday, July 6, 2026, at around 11:39 p.m.

The truck was flagged down by members of the Sand and Gravel Task Force and personnel of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (Menro), and the Balamban Police Station who were conducting an operation against illegal transport of sand and gravel in the area.

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The truck driver, Antoniet Sillar, 31, of Sitio Candero, Barangay Lamesa, was apprehended and later turned over by the task force to the police.

Investigation showed that the authorities were conducting the operation in the area when a truck passed by carrying sealed barrels, which were emitting a foul odor.

This prompted the task force to flag down the truck.

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After questioning the truck driver, he admitted that the barrels contained medical waste allegedly from a maternity hospital in Mandaue City.

But when the authorities asked for the necessary legal documents to transport the waste, such as the delivery receipts, transport permits, or other authorizations, the driver failed to provide them.

The driver also allegedly admitted that the waste was to be disposed of in the area.

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The driver will face charges for violation of Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The barrels of medical waste were also confiscated while the truck carrying the barrels was impounded by the police.

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