A Manila court has sentenced a business owner to a maximum of 20 years in prison for illegally importing hazardous waste materials from Canada, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) found the business owner guilty of aiding and facilitating the importation of hazardous waste in 10 container vans at the Port of Manila in June 2013. The court imposed a sentence of 12 years and one day to 20 years in prison, along with a P1-million fine, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency. The shipment was initially declared as compressed plastic scrap but contained mixed, unsorted, and heterogeneous plastic materials that allegedly entered the country without the required clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The DOJ stated that the business owner's actions violated environmental regulations, as the waste was not properly declared or permitted for importation. Meanwhile, the Manila RTC acquitted two customs brokers after the prosecution failed to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. This case highlights the legal consequences of illegal waste importation and the importance of adhering to environmental regulations in international trade. The incident involved 69 containers of waste that were eventually returned to Canada from the Philippines, as documented in a June 2019 photo showing containers at Global Container Terminals in Delta, British Columbia. The case serves as a reminder of the strict enforcement of environmental laws and the penalties for those who disregard them.