A canter truck loaded with five drums of hospital waste was intercepted by the Balamban Municipal Police Station around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2026, in Barangay Lamesa, Balamban town. The driver, identified as Antoniet Baynar Sillar, 31, married, was detained at the Balamban Police Station while charges are being prepared against him.
Police Operation Uncovers Illegal Waste Transport
Major Ian Macatangay, chief of the Balamban Police Station, told Superbalita Cebu that the interception occurred during a joint operation with personnel from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (Menro) targeting illegal sand and gravel hauling. The truck driven by Sillar passed by and emitted a strong odor, prompting officers to stop it. When asked about his cargo, Sillar admitted it was hospital waste from a maternity hospital in Mandaue City.
Driver Lacks Required Documents
Sillar was asked to present documents such as delivery receipts, transport permits, and other authorizations for transporting such waste, but he failed to produce any. According to Macatangay, the actions of the driver and the vehicle operator pose serious health risks.
The police are now preparing charges against Sillar for violating environmental laws and regulations on waste transport. The investigation is ongoing to determine the origin of the waste and whether the maternity hospital in Mandaue City is complicit in the illegal disposal attempt.
