Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Senate panel to probe administrative liability of PCG, Marina on oil spill—Villar
Philippines
Senate panel to probe administrative liability of PCG, Marina on oil spill—Villar
Senate panel to probe administrative liability of PCG, Marina on oil spill—Villar
Published Mar 19, 2023 06:37 am
The Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change will look into the possible administrative liabilities of both the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) on the oil spill that ruined the waters of Oriental Mindoro due to the sinking of the ill-fated MT Princess Empress.
Senator Cynthia Villar, head of the Senate panel, said she firmly believes some officials of both agencies have a liability on the issue considering they are in charge of the issuance of permits and regulating maritime movements in the country.
Marina, the country’s maritime regulator, had earlier claimed that RDC Reield Marine Services, Inc., the owner of the vessel, had no permit to sail but that it filed an amended certificate of public convenience (CPC).
But the PCG, in response, posted documents on social media seeking to discredit the Marina chief’s statements.
“Hindi ko alam kung sa civil service yan eh, kasi mga government officials sila and employees (I don’t know if this will fall under the civil service law because they are government officials and employees),” Villar said in an interview on Radio DZBB, on Sunday, March 19.
“Hindi ko pa nare -review yung civil service; ang ni-re review namin ngayon ay yung pananagutan ng may-ari ng bapor sa tao na napahirapan nila (I haven’t reviewed the civil service regulations; what we are reviewing right now is the liability of the owner of the ship to the people who suffered) because of this,” she said.
Nevertheless, Villar said she believes aside from RDC, both Marina and PCG should also face liabilities for the oil spill.
“Meron ‘yan…Syempre meron (They have liability, of course there is),” Villar said.
“Re-reviewhin ko pa ung pananagutan ng government officials na nag cause nitong problemang ito (I will review the liabilities of the government officials that caused this problem),” the senator assured.
Asked if she sees possible collusion on the part of these officials and the ship owner, Villar said there should be concrete evidence to prove it.
“Mahirap magsalita kasi tayo naman, kahit pakiramdam lang natin (na meron), pero (It’s difficult to say because on our part, even if we feel there is, still) we have to prove it,” the senator said.
Villar also said the panel will continue its hearings on the Mindoro oil spill even after the Senate goes into recess for the Holy Week.
The Senate’s plenary session will adjourn on March 25 and will resume on May 8, 2023.
But for now, she said, the panel is looking into the accountability of the owner of the MT Princess Empress, which was reported to be a rebuilt scrap ship.
Villar said RDC is a small company, and may not have sufficient assets to pay off its obligations to the people of Mindoro and the damage to the environment that the oil spill caused.
“Ang problema nila, maliit silang kumpanya. Kahit maski ibigay nila lahat ng pagaari ng kumpanya eh tingin ko kulang pa (kabayaran) sa naging cause nito (Their problem is, they are a small company. Even if they give all the company's property, I think it is still insufficient (compensation) for this),” she said.
“Maliit eh, billion ang halaga nito. Kasi yung nawalan ng trabaho, mga fishermen…Tapos yung damaga pa sa ating coral reefs, sa ating tourism…lahat, malaki yun (It’s a small company, yet this costs billions. He has to take into account those who lost their livelihood, the fishermen…Then the damage to our coral reefs, on our tourism…everything, that’s a huge amount),” Villar pointed out.
“Malaki ito, baka hindi niya kaya ito. Maba-bankrupt siya dito (This is huge; they might not be able to make it. They will go bankrupt here),” she pointed out.