Tankers in Bataan oil spill probed for smuggling

Authorities are looking into whether the tankers involved in the Bataan oil spill are connected to illegal activities, such as "paihi" or smuggling, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said Tuesday.

Under the "paihi" system, oil from a larger vessel is transferred to other smaller craft at sea to avoid paying taxes.

"It's one of the possibilities," Vasquez said in an ambush interview following the meeting of the Oil Spill Inter-Agency Committee at the Department of Justice.

"Kasi sa lahat ng mga sakuna, tinitignan mo lahat 'yan kung ito ba ay intentional o ito ba ay dahil sa negligence o ito ba ay may kuntsabahan," Vasquez added.

(In all disasters, you need to look into the possibilities that the incident was intentional, due to negligence, or has elements of connivance.)

In the meeting, officials discussed the sinking of the MTKR Terranova and the MTKR Jason Bradley, and the grounding of the MV Mirola 1 in July in the waters off Bataan.

According to Vasquez, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) previously issued a seizure order against the MKTR Jason Bradley due to its alleged involvement in an oil smuggling complaint.

"So, parang merong, sabihin na lang natin history ng ganyang klase. And then, meron ding raw data sila na tinitignan 'yung angulo na pati yung Mirola, Mirola 1, ay involved din sa mga illegal activities eh," he said.

(So, it's like it already has a history like that. And then, they are also looking into data and the angle that Mirola, the Mirola 1, is also involved in illegal activities.)

The MV Mirola 1, Vasquez said, is an unregistered vessel.

Red flags

Aside from this, he said that Jason Bradley and Mirola 1 did not have clearance from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) before sailing.

"Bakit naglayag na walang clearance ng Coast Guard? Dapat bago maglayag, before any ship would sail or vessel will sail, they have to get clearance from the Philippine Coast Guard. Yung dalawa, wala," he said.

(Why sail without a clearance from the Coast Guard? Before any ship or vessel can sail, they have to get clearance from the Philippine Coast Guard. The two did not have any.)

He said all these matters were "red flags."

Vasquez, meanwhile, said that the MTKR Terranova did not comment on the investigation as it was only a possibility and was still being verified.

"'Yung isang bagay kung bakit natin gusto ma refloat 'yan at ma-salvage ay para ma-confirm at ma-examine nang mainam at saka makumpara 'yung oil na nandoon sa loob ng Terranova at saka kung ano mang meron sa dalawang barko pa, kasi doon mo malalaman kung may koneksyon 'yung mga 'yan," he said.

(One of the reasons why we want the tankers refloated and salvaged is so we can confirm and examine the oil they are carrying because that is how you will find out their connection.)

All oil passing through the BOC, he said, has a "marker."

"Mache-check mo kasi nilalagyan ng Customs 'yan ng marker na mag papakita na magpapakita na nagbayad ng Customs duties and tariff 'yan. 'Pag wala, ibig sabihin kung saan nanggaling 'yan," he said.

(You can check because Customs puts a marker that shows that a compliant ship paid its Customs duties and tariff. Without that, it means the cargo came from somewhere else.)

"Iche-check din nila ngayon kung parehas ba 'yung quality ng oil na nandoon sa tatlong barkong 'yan. Para ma-establish mo," he added.

(They will also check if the quality of oil is the same for the three boats. So, you can establish [the connection].)

The owner of the MTKR Terranova previously denied allegations that it was involved in oil smuggling.

Compensation

Meanwhile, Vasquez said affected fisherfolk and around 31,000 Cavite residents and 21,000 Bataan residents will be given civil compensation.

"Ayon sa batas kasi, 'yung Civil Liability Convention, at saka 'yung Oil… Pollution Compensation Act natin that implemented the convention, 'yan ay merong pondo initially na $6.5 million na pang bayad sa mga expenses," he said.

(Based on the Civil Liability Convention, and the Oil... Pollution Compensation Act that implemented the convention, there is a $6.5 million fund to pay for the expenses.)

He said the owners of the MTKR Terranova also made a commitment to pay for the compensation.

The meeting was attended by officials from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Maritime Industry Authority, the Department of Environment and Natural Resource, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Tourism, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds as well as the owners of the MT Terranova. — VDV, GMA Integrated News