Senate panel subpoenas MTKR Jason Bradley, MV Mirola 1 owners

The Senate committee on environment, natural resources, and climate change on Wednesday issued subpoena to the owners of MTKR Jason Bradley and MV Mirola 1 which caused an oil spill in Bataan.

In a Senate hearing, the committee chairperson Senator Cynthia Villar moved for the issuance of the subpoena after the two owners of the concerned ships failed to show up.

“In view of the absence of Mr. Rominick Ponesta, ship owner of MTKR Jason Bradley, and Ms. Mary Jane Obaldo, ship owner of MV Mirola 1, despite being notified of today's hearing, I move that subpoena be issued to the aforementioned persons,” Villar said.

Senator Francis Tolentino seconded the motion. 

“It has been moved and seconded that we will issue subpoena to owners of Jason Bradley and Mirola 1,” Villar said.

A total of 352,179 people in coastal barangays in Cavite have been affected by the oil spill that has reached their shores, with lost income amounting to nearly P18 million each day, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Bataan has been placed under a state of calamity due to the oil spill from MTKR Terranova and two other ships.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News