Class suit eyed vs those responsible for oil spills in Bataan -- DOJ
A class suit is expected to be filed by fishermen affected by the oil spills off the waters of Bataan, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Friday, Aug. 2.
“We are looking at an angle of a class suit by fishermen against the owners and others who may be responsible for the oil spills," Remulla said.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang demandahan dito kasi may nakita kami talagang crime ginawa dito (Lawsuits will be filed continously because crimes were discovered),” he added.
A class suit is "when the subject matter of the controversy is one of common or general interest to many persons, and the parties are so numerous that it is impracticable to bring them all before the court, one or more may sue or defend for the benefit of all."
Remulla's statement was issued during an inter-agency inquiry led by the DOJ on oil spills in Bataan.
The 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 also ran aground in Mariveles that resulted in oil spilling out.
Remulla reminded that this was not the first time the DOJ-led inter-agency convened to look into oil spills.
He reminded that last year the inter-agency looked into the Feb. 8, 2023 sinking of MT Princess Empress that resulted to the oil spill off the waters of Oriental Mindoro.
“We are just doing the same thing now because we made this standard operating procedure of the DOJ to make sure that these things are not neglected or ignored by the government,” Remulla explained.
During Friday’s inquiry, Remulla noted that there has been “significant findings, and all these are interconnected."
Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla who also participated in the meeting lamented that oil spills has led to a fishing ban in the province that has affected around 25,000 fisherfolk.
The governor lamented that the fishing ban has resulted to losses of P12 million per day.