MANILA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Senate is set to investigate the reported use of part of an Aeta ancestral domain in Zambales province in northern Philippines as an illegal dumpsite, after a senator filed a resolution seeking a probe, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
The resolution, filed by Senator Robinhood Padilla, seeks to identify those responsible for the alleged landfill operations, examine measures to rehabilitate the affected area, and strengthen legal protections for Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands.
According to the resolution, the area had allegedly been used as a dumpsite since 2019, contaminating nearby water sources and disrupting the livelihoods of Aeta residents. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources had previously ordered the closure of the site after finding it violated environmental regulations.
The move came after Aeta leaders called for an investigation into how the alleged dumpsite was allowed to operate for years. Community representatives have also urged authorities to rehabilitate the affected ancestral land and hold those responsible accountable. ■