By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Taking into account the dubious circumstances, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday (4 August 2024) said it is investigating whether the three vessels responsible for the Bataan oil spill are involved in “paihi” (oil smuggling) with other vessels while at sea.
It was learned that under the “paihi” scheme, oil from a large vessel is transferred to smaller crafts at sea to avoid paying taxes.
“Ang mga ganitong reports ay hindi namin dini-discount. We are carefully coordinating din po sa other agencies para tulungan tayo sa previous citations ng mga barkong ito,” PCG National Capital Region (NCR)-Central Luzon spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Michael John Encina said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
He disclosed that their investigating team is identifying the real reason why the sunken MT Terranova, the MTKR Jason Bradley, and MV Mirola were in waters off Bataan before the incidents happened.
On Saturday (3 August 2024), an official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) said they saw “red flags” in the Bataan oil spill.
“There are so many red flags dito [in this incident],” DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said in a news forum at 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 vessel also sank in the waters off Mariveles, Bataan.
It was carrying 5,500 liters of diesel and was also found to have leaks.
Meanwhile, the third vessel, 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 at how the vessels sailed despite warnings of an upcoming typhoon.
(ia/mnm)
