Around 20,000 to 30,000 liters of diesel were seized from a cargo vessel and three boats that were caught in an alleged case of fuel pilferage at the Navotas Fish Port, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) disclosed Monday, Jan. 30.
The PCG said that its personnel were patrolling when they spotted five crew members of M/V Mirola 1 as they were transferring pilfered fuel to 13 crew members of boats Palawan Pirates 2022, Palawan Pirates 2023, and Palawan Patrick last Saturday, Jan. 28.
The PCG apprehended the 18 crew of the cargo vessel and the three boats.
“Agad na ininspeksyon ang mga sasakyang pandagat at nakumpira ang pagsasagawa ng iligal na aktibidad (The sea vessels were immediately conducted which resulted to the confirmation of the illegal activity),” the PCG said.
“Sa pagpapatuloy ng imbestigasyon, nakumpirma na walang dokumento ang mga ito (Based on the ongoing investigation, it was confirmed that the had no official documents),” it added.
The PCG revealed that the three boats were later found to have allegedly been involved in other cases of fuel pilferage in Bataan and Batangas.
The apprehended crew members were brought to Coast Guard Sub-Station Navotas for the filing of appropriate charges and proper disposition.