Kara David, umalma matapos pagdudahan ang dokumentaryo dahil sa post ni Boss Toyo

• Kara David defended her I-Witness documentary on the alleged illegal dumpsite in Subic after online criticism questioned its credibility
• The veteran journalist said her team spent more than a month investigating the issue and interviewed the Ayta community, DENR, NCIP, and the local government
• She stressed that DENR declared the dumpsite illegal and that the mayor's office acknowledged accountability during the documentary
• Boss Toyo later apologized for his earlier narrative, clarified that he only shared what he personally observed, and thanked Kara for bringing attention to the community's situation

Award-winning journalist and documentarist Kara David has broken her silence after her I-Witness documentary about an alleged illegal dumpsite in Subic, Zambales became the center of online debate.

The documentary, titled "Ibinasurang Paraiso," featured the plight of the Ayta community in Sitio Tibag, whose ancestral land was allegedly turned into a dumpsite. According to the program, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) discovered the operation in 2022 and ordered its closure for allegedly violating the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Although operations were eventually stopped in March 2026, the documentary said tons of waste remain in the area, continuing to affect the environment and nearby residents.

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The issue gained more attention after content creator Boss Toyo shared his own visit to the site. In a Facebook post, he said he did not notice any foul odor at what he described as "ground zero" and claimed the Ayta residents he spoke with also said there was no unpleasant smell or significant presence of flies. He also mentioned learning that the property was allegedly privately owned while urging the public to reduce plastic waste.

His post sparked mixed reactions online, with some social media users claiming it contradicted the findings presented in Kara's documentary. Others even accused the documentary of being biased or serving a political agenda.

As discussions intensified, a Facebook user named "Boss Seth" pointed out that Kara's documentary included multiple perspectives, including those of the DENR, the Ayta community, and the local government. He also emphasized that the documentary was not produced in just a single day.

Kara later responded through her verified Facebook account, explaining the extent of their investigation.

"Salamat po sir at sa lahat po ng nagkokomento. Mahigit isang buwan po naming sinaliksik ang isyung ito."

She added that the DENR itself ordered the closure of the dumpsite because it had been declared illegal.

"DENR mismo ang nagpasara sa dumpsite dahil ito ay declared illegal."

Kara also said the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) identified the property as ancestral land and not one owned by a private individual.

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"NCIP mismo ang nagsabi, na ito ay ancestral land (not owned by a private individual)."

She further explained that their team interviewed Ayta residents, personally visited their homes, and sought the side of the mayor's office to ensure balanced reporting.

"At para patas, kinuha din namin ang panig ng mayor’s office. Malinaw na may paglabag sa batas at sinabi ng mayor’s office, we accept accountability."

She concluded by leaving the judgment to the public.

"Napanood n’yo naman siguro. Kayo na lang po ang humusga. Salamat po."

Following the online discussion, Boss Toyo issued a public apology, saying he never intended to argue with anyone and that he merely shared what he personally witnessed during his visit. He also reiterated that everyone shares responsibility in addressing the country's growing waste problem and expressed gratitude to Kara for producing a documentary that drew attention to the situation of the indigenous community in Subic.

Kara David is a acclaimed Filipino broadcast journalist, television host, and documentary filmmaker best known for her investigative human-interest reporting on programs like GMA Network's i-Witness. Beyond her award-winning journalism career—which includes a prestigious Peabody Award—she serves as a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman and leads Project Malasakit, a foundation dedicated to supporting marginalized communities featured in her stories.

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In another report, Kara David's latest I-Witness documentary, Ibinasurang Paraiso, gained hundreds of thousands of views after highlighting the condition of an Ayta ancestral land in Subic, Zambales. According to the indigenous community, a portion of their ancestral domain was converted into a dumpsite in 2019, leaving large amounts of garbage that remain in the area. Residents said the waste contaminated their water source, forcing them to depend on filtered rainwater for drinking and other daily needs.

Meanwhile, the administrators of a well-known social media page released a public apology and retraction after altering statements made by Kara David. The award-winning broadcast journalist accepted the apology, effectively putting an end to the viral online controversy. Reports also confirmed that the misleading quote graphic had been removed from the page's primary social media platform. The individual behind the page emphasized the value of accountability and stressed the importance of ensuring that public discussions remain grounded in accurate information.

Source: KAMI.com.gh