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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ starts case build-up on sunken vessel, oil spill in Oriental Mindoro – Sec. Remulla

DOJ starts case build-up on sunken vessel, oil spill in Oriental Mindoro – Sec. Remulla

Published Mar 16, 2023 10:46 am
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started conducting a case build-up against the owners and operators of MT Princess Empress that sank and spilled oil in the waters of Oriental Mindoro. “We are sorting out all the evidence so that we can file the proper complaint,” assured Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Thursday, March 16. “We can collate all the data necessary to build a case,” he added. Remulla revealed that the NBI already has in its possession an affidavit from a person who is privy to information about MT Princess Empress.  He did not identify the person. “Isang major finding natin ay hindi siya brand new vessel (One of the major findings is that the vessel is no longer new),” said Remulla who noted some misrepresentations that MT Princess Empress was a brand- new vessel. He said he was also informed that despite gale warnings, the vessel still left the port on Feb. 28 and eventually sank. “It was not built to be a tanker from the very beginning. And we’re looking from the angle of insurance also kasi parang may insurance siyang napakalaki (because it appears it has a large amount of insurance),” he added. Remulla’s revelations were done during a meeting at the DOJ with  government agencies to discuss what actions to take concerning the oil spill. Aside from the DOJ, the meeting was participated by representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr). “There is a probable case” against the owners and operators of the sunken vessel, he said. He also said that DOJ Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez will study what actions to take. “By Tuesday ay sana tapos na yung aming pag-aaral (By Tuesday we hope to finish our study). We will work over the weekend to study what we have to do on this case,” he added.
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