PPA: Probe ongoing as regards vessels that hit Batangas port

The Philippine Ports Authority said Thursday that a probe is underway in the vessels that hit Batangas port this month to determine the liabilities of those involved.

Atty. Mark Jon Palomar, PPA assistant general manager for operations, was asked for updates about vessels Super Shuttle 2 and Cassandra that hit Batangas port. 

Palomar said it was found out that the captain of Super Shuttle 2 was not in the vessel when the incident happened. 

''There were two vessels in Batangas which hit our port, one was the Super Shuttle 2, it was at anchorage sometimes during the night, it broke anchor. It was reported and when they were looking for the captain, he was not on the vessel, which is a violation of our regulations. We are currently conducting an investigation on this and proper charges will be filed,'' Palomar said during a Palace press briefing. 

''With regards the other vessels, (MT) Cassandra, this vessel was seized by the Bureau of Customs last week as part of a joint task force with the Bureau of Customs, the maritime police, as well as the Coast Guard,'' he added. 

Palomar explained that MT Cassandra was tied to the dock as part of the protocol when a storm was coming. 

''So an investigation is also ongoing regarding the liabilities of individuals involved,'' he said. 

The Philippine National Police-Maritime Group earlier said a representative from Bureau of Customs (BOC) asked Batangas Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA) to help in probing the alleged fuel smuggling activities involving "MT Cassandra" after authorities received intelligence reports.

BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso, whose team led the operation together with the BOC-Enforcement and Security Service, had said their coordination with the local port officers and enforcement units led them to MT Cassandra "which we caught in the act of transferring fuel products into the lorries on Tuesday night."

Meanwhile, BOC-Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said that further investigation showed that the two lorry trucks contained 40,000 liters and 14,000 liters of unmarked fuel, respectively.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News