Two of the three vessels involved in the oil spills in Bataan -- the MKTR Jason Bradley and MV Mirola 1 --  were found to have histories of criminal activities in the past, Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez said on Tuesday, August 13.

“‘Yun kasing Jason Bradley in fact meron siyang seizure order nga from Bureau of Customs dahil involved na ito sa isang kaso before na pending dito sa amin at ‘yan ay dahil sa oil smuggling (Jason Bradley has a seizure order from the Bureau of Customs because it was found involved in oil smuggling case that is now pending with the DOJ),” Vasquez told reporters.

Based on the probe done by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Vasquez said "kasama s'ya (MKTR Jason Bradley) sa mga nahuli nagpapaihi mismo actual pero ‘yung nahuli nila ‘yung isang tanker (Jason Bradley was caught involved in oil smuggling with an oil tanker).”

“Nakatakbo ‘yan at nagkaroon lang ng kaso at ‘yun ang naging resulta ng seizure order ng Customs (It managed to escape but is now a case which resulted in a seizure order from the Bureau of Customs),” he said.

He also said that "meron din raw data sila (NBI) na tinitingnan na pati ‘yung Mirola 1 ay involved din sa illegal activities (are also looking into raw data that Mirola 1 is also involved in illegal activities).”

He lamented that the two vessels do not have insurance and MV Mirola ! was found not registered. 

During the onslaught of typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon last month, MT Terranova and the MTKR Jason Bradley sank off the waters of Limay on July 25 and in Mariveles on July 27, respectively.

It was also found that MV Mirola 1 also ran aground in Mariveles that resulted in oil spills.

Vasquez said the DOJ-led Bataan Oil Spill Inter-Agency Investigation is currently investigating the possibility that all three vessels were involved in “paiihi” or oil thefts.

He pointed out that “magkakalapit lang silang nangyari on the average five to 10 nautical miles around each other lang (They were near each other when it happened at between five to 10 nautical miles).”

While MT Terronova was the only vessel authorized by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to sail among the three vessels, Vasquez said “26 hours mula na naglayag sa Limay eh three to five miles lang ang tinakbo niya (26 hours after it left from Limay it was only able to sail three to five miles).”

As part of the investigation, Vasquez said the oils contained in the three vessels will also be examined.

“Lahat kasi ng oil kung dumaan sa Customs ay may tinatawag na marker (All oils that passed through Customs have markers),” said Vasquez.

“Nilalagyan ng Customs ‘yan ng marker na nagpapakita na nagbayad ng Customs duties at tax and tariffs ‘yan (The Customs place markers to show that duties, tax, and tariffs were paid),” he added.

Apart from the markers, Vasquez said investigators will also determine if the three vessels have the same oil quality.

On the other hand, Vasquez said the owner of MT Terranova and its insurer have expressed commitment to pay those affected by the oil spills.

“Confirmed ‘yung civil compensation ng mga affected fisherfolks and other residents ng Cavite at tsaka Bataan. As of now 31,000 residents ng Cavite ang naidentify na nila and then 21,000 ‘yung sa Bataan (The civil compensation for the affected fisherfolks and other residents in Cavite and Bataan has been confirmed. As of now around 31,000 residents of Cavite and 21,000 residents of Bataan have been identified),” he said.