NBI looking into alleged oil smuggling by MV Mirola 1

The National Bureau of Investigation is probing into the alleged oil smuggling by the crew of MV Mirola 1 that ran aground off the coast of Mariveles, Bataan last July 31.

In Mark Salazar's Wednesday report on 24 Oras, authorities said the MV Mirola 1 was not carrying any oil but they discovered the ship was attempting  to avoid authorities before it grounded.

“Ang initial information nyan ay tumakas sila noong kasagsagan na masama ang panahon. [Yung pagtakas nila] yan ang iimbestigahan ng ating joint investigation team,” said PCG Bataan Station commander Lieutenant Commander Michael John Encina.

(Based on our initial information, the crew of MV Mirola 1 escaped during the height of the bad weather. Our joint investigation team is investigating why the crew went into hiding.)

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the owners of MV Mirola for comment on the allegations.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard is working with the US Coast Guard in an attempt to recover another ship, the MT Terranova, off Limay, Bataan. The capsized tanker was carrying 1.4 billion liters of oil when it capsized, posing an alarming threat to the environment.

“Diniscuss natin sa kanila ang current situation ng MT Terranova. Yung specific details for example ang depth of water, ano posisyon ng barko, ano na ginawa natin sa underwater operation natin, at containment measures natin sa ibabaw naman based sa oil sheen na nakikita,” Encina said.

(We are discussing the current situation of MT Terranova. Some of the specific details include the water depth, the vessel’s position, our current underwater operation, and the containment measures on the surface based on the oil sheen we have observed.

Both coast guards also conducted a simulation of siphoning the oil from the sunken vessel and transferring it to plastic containers.

The owners of the Terranova earlier denied allegations that they were engaged in oil smuggling.

Meanwhile, the recovery operations of the sunken MTKR Jason Bradley, off the town of Marivele, continue as siphoning pipes have been set up.

“Ang mangyayari po hihigupin paahon ang mga sea water inside the said vessel at kapag siya ay nag afloat saka naman hihipugin ang 5,500 liters of diesel oil dito kay MT Bradley,” Encina said.

(What will happen is the sea water inside the vessel will be siphoned and when it floats, that is when the 5,500 liters of diesel oil will be siphoned from the MT Bradley.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News