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Rodriguez, Rizal landfill operator denies bribing families of trashslide victims

Dennis Datu

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177191950918820260223030228_f067d1c4dc2609d324366bf9228540b6b26ae5348410b661c20454a6d3bb2712.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Incorporation (Int’l SWIMS Inc.) —  operator of Green Leap Solid Waste Management Inc., which owns the sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal — has firmly denied allegations that it is bribing the families of each victim with up to P50,000 to keep silent about the recent trash slide incident.</p><p>“Kung tinatakot man po sila ng kumpanya ay maaari naman po silang  magsangguni sa pulisya o kung saan mang government  agency at ituro po nila kung sino sa kumpanya  ang nagsasabi po na binibigyan sila ng pera para manahimik,” said Mark Erwin Delos Reyes, legal head of Int’l SWIMS.</p><p>However, Delos Reyes confirmed that the company provided financial assistance to the victims’ families but declined to disclose the amount.</p><p>Some relatives of the victims have reportedly refused to grant media interviews, claiming that certain company representatives told them not to speak publicly and allegedly offered them money.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/23/rodriguez-rizal-landfill-operator-denies-cover-up-says-only-3-buried-in-trash-slide-2204">Rodriguez, Rizal landfill operator denies cover up; says only 3 buried in trash slide</a></div><p>Urban poor group Kadamay said it has been having difficulty communicating with the victims’ families due to alleged intimidation by the landfill operator.</p><p>“Ang hirap makipag-usap dun sa mga kamag-anak dahil yung mismong namamahala sa landfill ay kinakausap itong mga kamag-anak na huwag magpa-interview sa media, huwag magpasa ng mga video na meron sila,” said Eufemia Doringo, secretary-general of Kadamay, in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.</p><p>Kadamay claimed that around 50 waste pickers were buried in the trash slide.</p><p>This was denied by both the landfill operator and town mayor Ronnie Evangelista, who described the figure as “too much.”</p><p>Meanwhile, Delos Reyes said the company is open to any investigation into the incident.</p><p>“Bukas po ang landfill sa kahit anong imbestigasyon, actually ngayon po may pending investigation na kami sa DENR kaya  tuloy-tuloy naman po ang pakikipagtulungan namin sa kanila,&quot; he stressed. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>POSSIBLE HOUSE PROBE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>This came after the Makabayan bloc filed a resolution in the House of Representatives seeking an inquiry by the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Labor and Employment into the incident.</p><p>Makabayan lawmakers on Tuesday filed House Resolution 815 urging the House panels to look into the incident and determine the possible accountability of the landfill operator.</p><p>“Malinaw ‘yung mga na-note natin na mga violations ng Ecological Waste Act, gayundin ‘yung Occupational Safety and Health Act… Nananawagan tayo na magkaroon din ng government rescue operations dito at matulungan agaran ‘yung mga families ng victims,” Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said.</p><p>“Idinidiin natin dito ‘yung kahirapan na mapanagot ang private company na ito… Kaya nananawagan tayo ng imbestigasyon sa Kongreso through this resolution para maging malinaw ano ba talaga ‘yung sitwasyon sa landfill, bakit nangyari ito?” ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, for his part, said.</p><p>House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice also called for a House probe and the temporary suspension of operations at the Rodriguez dumpsite following the massive landslide.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/22/3-persons-missing-in-landfill-collapse-says-rodriguez-rizal-lgu-2049">3 persons missing in landfill collapse, says Rodriguez, Rizal LGU</a></div><p>On the fourth day of search and retrieval operations, two waste pickers — a woman and a man — remain missing.</p><p>On Sunday evening, the body of a woman was recovered from the collapsed garbage pile.</p><p>Int’l SWIMS assured that search and retrieval operations are being conducted 24/7 and that an additional backhoe has been deployed to assist in the efforts.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qUaqAW3CC40?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Makabayan lawmakers on Tuesday filed House Resolution 815 urging the House panels to look into the incident and determine the possible accountability of the landfill operator.</p>

Makabayan lawmakers on Tuesday filed House Resolution 815 urging the House panels to look into the incident and determine the possible accountability of the landfill operator.

Rodriguez, Rizal landfill operator denies bribing families of trash slide victims

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Rodriguez, Rizal landfill operator denies bribing families of trash slide victims

Dennis Datu,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 24, 2026 03:53 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodriguez

Rizal

Landfill

Trash slide

Green Leap Solid Waste Management Inc.

International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Incorporation

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