MARINA exec dismissed over MT Princess Empress mishap in 2023 —DOTr

A regional director of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has been dismissed over the sinking of motor tanker Princess Empress that caused an oil spill in Oriental Mindoro and nearby areas in February 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.

In a statement, the DOTR said MARINA Region V Director Jaime Bea was dismissed after he was found culpable of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista told MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan about Bea’s dismissal in a letter dated August 7.

"We have had sinkings before, but no one has been held to account. This time all parties, whether private or public, will be held accountable. There will be no exception,” Bautista said.

“Our policy is zero tolerance to shortcuts, official negligence, and disregard of rules. The rule of law, good governance, and best practices must prevail throughout the department and its agencies," he added.

Bea’s counsel, Atty. Dominic Solis, said Bautista blaming his client is “quite a stretch and smacks of scapegoatism.”

“For Sec. Bautista to directly pin the blame on Engr. Bea for the sinking of the M/TKR Princess Empress is quite a stretch and smacks of scapegoatism,” Solis said.

Solis pointed out that Bea “simply approved” the certificate of ownership/certificate of Philippine Registry of MT Princess Empress. 

“Indeed, to date, there is still no official finding as to the actual cause of the sinking of the vessel,” Solis said.

“On the other hand, our client has been cleared by the DOJ in the falsification case filed by the NBI in relation to the incident,” he added.

According to Bautista, it was Bea who signed and approved the certificate of ownership/certificate of Philippine Registry of MT Princess Empress in “direct contravention” of rules and procedures.

He said Bea also failed to maintain the integrity of the processes in the Domestic Shipping Section and enforce the provisions of the Citizen's Charter. 

This allowed MARINA Regional Office V Engr. Joe Buban to process documents outside the scope of his duties, according to Bautista.

For Bautista, Bea’s actions caused millions of pesos of damage to the government in response operations and tarnished MARINA’s image and integrity.

The MT Princess Empress, which was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial oil, sank off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on February 28, 2023 amid strong waves.

The oil spill recovery operations for MT Princess Empress was completed in June 2023.—AOL, VAL/ GMA Integrated News