Importer of toxic wastes from Canada found guilty

THE Manila Regional Trial Court sentenced to a minimum of 12 years behind bars and a fine of ₱1 million the owner of the company that brought in 103 containers of toxic and municipal wastes from Canada in 2013, which resulted to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

In a ruling last August 26, found guilty was Adelfa Eduardo, owner of ‘Chronic Plastics,’ guilty for violating RA 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990. She was handed down a sentence of between 12 years to 20 years in prison plus a fine of ₱1 million.

While the Bureau of Customs, for unknown reason, declined to name Eduardo in its staement, her name was previously named in news reports related to the incident.

The BOC noted that it was Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, then the Deputy Commissioner, Enforcement Group, who issued an alert order for the shipment and conducted the initial investigation.

The incident turned into a diplomatic crisis after Canada refused to take back the shipment despite repeated requests from the Philippines under the Pnoy Aquino administration.

It only ended in May 2019, more than six years later, after Canada backed down and took back what remained of the shipment after President Rodrigo Duterte recalled the country’s ambassador to Canada in protest (Pinoy Exposé, July 11, 2026).

The BOC statement said that crucial to the conviction was the role played by the Enforcement Group under Nepomuceno in the investigation and the gathering of the evidence and in supporting the legal proceeding up to the end.

When reached for comment, the Customs Chief said:

“Ang desisyong ito ay patunay na sa pamamagitan ng mahigpit na pagbabantay at masusing imbestigasyon, napapanagot ang mga lumalabag sa batas.

“Kasama ang ating mga partner agency, patuloy nating titiyakin na hindi magagamit ang ating bansa bilang tapunan ng ilegal na basura na maaaring magdulot ng panganib sa kalikasan at kalusugan ng mamamayan.”