Seizure order issued vs. MTKR Jason Bradley in April 2022, BOC document shows

A warrant of seizure and detention was issued in 2022 against the MTKR Jason Bradley, the motor tanker that capsized and leaked oil into the waters off Mariveles, Bataan last month, a Bureau of Customs document shows.

As seen in John Consulta’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the BOC document is a warrant of seizure and detention issued against the vessel in April 2022 for failing the fuel marking test and for not showing proof of payment of duties and taxes. 

“Yung kasing Jason Bradley, in fact, meron siyang seizure order nga from Customs eh. Dahil involved na ito sa isang kaso before na pending dito sa amin, at ‘yan ay dahil sa oil smuggling. Yan ay ayon sa imbestigasyon ng NBI nung binerify nila yung mga records,” said Justice Undersecretary Raoul Vasquez. 

(There was a seizure order on the Jason Bradley from Customs, because it is involved in a case that is now pending with us and it was because of oil smuggling. That’s based on the investigation of the NBI after it verified the records.) 

It has also emerged that in December 2023, the National Bureau of Investigation's Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD) and the BOC conducted an operation to stop an alleged oil smuggling event involving a ship and several lorries—and the marine vessel, which got away, bore the name Jason Bradley.

“Makikita mo sa video nang nakatakas siya, yung hose niya di pa nga natanggal, alam mong nagmadali talagang tumakas nang nakitang parating kami,” said NBI-OTCD chief Jerome Bomediano. 

(You can see in the video that when it was getting away, the hose was not yet removed. You could tell they were trying to escape when they saw us.) 

“Doon sa test na kinonduct ng Bureau of Customs doon sa mga na-seize na fuel, nakita nila na ito’y smuggled fuel,” he added. 

(According to the tests conducted by the BOC, the seized fuel, had been smuggled in.) 

According to the marine protest submitted by the Jason Bradley's chief engineer on its capsize, the vessel’s anchor was dragged during the onslaught of the Typhoon Carina-enhanced Southwest Monsoon. The ship tried to maneuver to find shelter in Mariveles, but the large waves overwhelmed the vessel. 

The PCG announced on Monday that it has been able to partly lift the ship out of the water.

“Yung counterintelligence division at ang Bataan district ay continuously nagko-conduct ng investigation, at meron kaming naamoy na something fishy is going on,” said NBI director Jaime Santiago.

(Our counterintelligence division and the Bataan district are continuously conducting an investigation, and we can smell that something fishy is going on.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News