Philippine Court of Appeals Reverses Acquittal in 2013 Canada Waste Import Case

The Philippine Court of Appeals has overturned the acquittal of two individuals involved in the illegal importation of toxic waste from Canada in 2013. The decision, made by the Eighth Division of the Court of Appeals on January 31, reinstated criminal charges against Adelfa Eduardo of Chronic Plastics Inc. and customs broker Leonora Flores. The duo was implicated in importing 50 container vans, misdeclared as ‘plastic scrap’, which were later discovered to contain household garbage, including used adult diapers. The shipments arrived in the Philippines in six batches between June and August 2013. The Manila Regional Trial Court had previously acquitted Eduardo and Flores in July 2023, following a demurrer to evidence filed by the defendants. However, the Office of the Solicitor General contested this ruling, arguing that the demurrer was granted prematurely and without due process. The Court of Appeals agreed, stating that the acquittal was null and void due to a violation of the prosecution’s right to due process. The case has been remanded to the Regional Trial Court for further proceedings, with instructions to consider the prosecution’s input on the demurrer to evidence.