DoJ recommends filing of raps over Oriental Mindoro oil spill

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) on Wednesday recommended the filing falsification of documents charges against officers of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the shipping company that operated the fuel tanker that sank and caused a major oil spill off Oriental Mindoro last year.

In a statement, the DoJ said a panel of state prosecutors approved filing the charges against the corporate officers of MT Princess Empress, an officer of Marina, and a private individual for irregularities in the oil tanker’s registration.

Prosecutors had evaluated the affidavits and pieces of evidence related to the incident and found probable cause for falsification of documents, among them a fake construction certificate and an affidavit of ownership.

This stemmed from a complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in June last year before the DoJ, which also accused 19 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers of participating in the alleged illegal registration of the vessel.

The DoJ recommended dismissing the complaint against the PCG officers due to lack of probable cause.

The tanker was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil when it sank off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28 last year, adversely affecting the fisheries and tourism industries in the area.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla gave his assurance that all those responsible for the oil spill would be held accountable.

“Negligence cannot be used as an excuse to destroy the environment and livelihood of people,” he said. “It is important to be diligent on land and our waters.