By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Noticing some “red flags” in the Bataan oil spill, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking into a possible “conspiracy” that might have led to the recent maritime disaster in Bataan involving three vessels that leaked thousands of litres of fuel into Manila Bay.
This came on the heels of the statement of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday (2 August 2024) that all three vessels — MT Terranova, MTKR Jason Bradley and MV Mirola 1 — were “interconnected.”
“There are so many red flags dito [in this incident],” DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez admitted at the Saturday News Forum in Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
It can be recalled that on July 25, the MT Terranova capsized and sank 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan, with one crew member reported to have died.
MT Terranova was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel.
Two days later, on July 27, the MTKR Jason Bradley — another vessel — sank in the waters off Mariveles, Bataan.
It was carrying 5,500 liters of diesel, and was also found to have leaks.
Meanwhile, the MV Mirola 1 ran aground near the shore of Mariveles town. Oil was seen flowing into the ocean from tanks inside the motor vessel.
“‘Yan ang sinasabi kong red flag, pare-parehas na magkakadikit,” Vasquez noted.
He also expressed bewilderment why the vessels sailed despite warnings of an upcoming typhoon.
ia/mnm
