Sunken MTKR Jason Bradley in Bataan refloated —PCG

Motor tanker Jason Bradley, which sank off Bataan waters in July, has been refloated, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday.

In an update, the PCG said contracted salvor FES Challenger reported that MTKR Jason Bradley has been refloated to 70% after seawater pumping as well as patching and securing of the vessel's hull.

"Once these efforts are fully completed, the vessel will be towed to the Diving Industry Shipyard located in Barangay Alas-Asin, Mariveles, Bataan," the PCG’s Incident Command Post said.

On July 26, MTKR Jason Bradley with 5,500 diesel sank in the vicinity waters of Barangay Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan. 

Siphoning operations started on August 10 after leaks were found in the motor tanker.

Aside from MTKR Jason Bradley, the PCG has been dealing with sunken MTKR Terranova — which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil — and grounded MV Mirola 1 in Bataan.

For MTKR Terranova, 97% of its oil cargo was recovered as 37,867 liters of the load were lost. Meanwhile, MV Mirola 1 was successfully towed and moored at a shipyard in Bataan.

The PCG and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are looking into whether the three ships are involved in oil smuggling. The owners of MTKR Terranova have denied the allegation. 

Due to the impact of the oil spill, a state of calamity was declared in the entire province of Bataan as well as in nine cities and towns in Cavite.

Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said this was an important development as it would allow authorities to investigate whether the motor tanker was involved in oil smuggling or paihi.

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

“Pero that is just one aspect of the overall investigation, mag establish kung merong criminal or administrative liabilities ‘yung people involved. ‘Yung ship owner, ‘yung ship captain, ‘yung crew,” Vasquez said in an ambush interview.

(However, that's just one aspect of the overall investigation, which aims to determine if there are criminal or administrative liabilities for the people involved, including the ship owner, the ship captain, and the crew.)

“Even government officials involved, PCG or MARINA, etc. We are still not closing the doors on possible filing of cases against those responsible,” he added.

Vasquez said they plan to give the PCG and the NBI around two weeks to give their final report. —Joviland Rita and Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK/VBL, GMA Integrated News