DOJ joins probe of Guimaras oil spill

President Arroyo vowed a full investigation into the country’s worst- ever oil spill off Guimaras and ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to head an investigation into the criminal aspect of the case.

"There will be a full investigation of this entire matter to determine what happened, who is responsible and what steps we need to take to make sure that this type of accident does not happen again," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"We shall do everything in our power to right the wrongs caused by this unfortunate incident," Mrs. Arroyo told the residents during a visit to the island province yesterday.

Mrs. Arroyo said she was deeply pained by the disaster, which she described in proportions of a "national calamity."

The President ordered Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to join Task Force Guimaras to investigate those responsible for the oil spill.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered the investigation as she called on Petron Corp. anew "to immediately clean up the mess" left by the sinking of an oil tanker Solar I off Guimaras last Aug. 11 that led to the ecological disaster.

At the same time, Mrs. Arroyo announced her plans to include Guimaras in a comprehensive environment plan for the country which she called "Berdeng Pilipinas (Green Philippines)."

"The accident once again underscores the fragile nature of our environment and why we must as a people seek to do more to preserve our precious natural resources," she said.

In an effort to revive the tourism industry in Guimaras, the President said she will stay overnight in a beach resort on the island despite the ongoing cleanup operations in the area.

"On a personal note, let me express how saddened I am to see your beautiful beaches besmirched by this accident," she said.

Presidential Management Staff chief Arthur Yap said the President wanted to prove in her overnight stay that the northwest part of the Guimaras Strait had been declared safe for swimming and for visits of both local and foreign tourists.

To prove this, Yap said Mrs. Arroyo would go back to Guimaras on Monday for an overnight stay along with members of the Malacañang Press Corps and other invited guests.

The President made the visit to the island to personally witness the cleaning operations and help in the distribution of relief supplies to affected villagers.

The sludge has affected fragile marine ecosystems in Guimaras, including vast mangroves and fertile fishing grounds that provide food and livelihood to local communities.

More than 600 residents have been treated for respiratory illnesses, skin disease, dizziness and gastrointestinal ailments related to exposure to the sludge, according to provincial health authorities.

Petron, which chartered Solar I, said it may try to raise the tanker, siphon off the remaining oil or entomb it with sand after plugging the leak. The tanker sank off the coast of Guimaras with two million liters of bunker oil,

The tanker sank on Aug. 11 off the coast of Guimaras and some 50,000 gallons of oil leaked into the sea, causing black sludge to be washed up on the island’s shores, crippling its booming tourism industry.

The Coast Guard, assisted by US and Japanese surveyors, is now racing against time to prevent the remaining 450,000 gallons of oil in the tanker’s hold from leaking into the sea.

Petron has hired a Japanese salvage ship equipped with a remote-control mini-submarine to help in the process, but its arrival has been delayed until Tuesday.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Friday said the wreck has been spotted lying some 640 meters underwater around 13.3 nautical miles south of Guimaras.

Defense Secretary and Task Force Guimaras chief Avelino Cruz said the salvage ship, equipped with a remote-operated vehicle (ROV), is set to arrive Tuesday at the latest.

Once the salvage ship arrives and the ROV is able to determine the condition of the sunken tanker, rescue officials can now decide on whether to re-float the ship, or siphon off the remaining bunker fuel, Cruz said.

Guimaras Gov. JC Rahman Nava, however, insisted in removing the sunken tanker to prevent further damage.

As long as the ship remains under the sea, Nava stressed, the threat will still be there.

The Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI), on the other hand, is expected to release in the next few days its initial findings on the oil spill, which is considered the country’s worst environmental disaster.

Liabilities

Gonzalez said the investigation would focus on the possible liability of Petron and the ship’s owner and the crew.

"Definitely, the DOJ will intervene because the investigation being conducted right now by the Special Board of Marine Inquiry may produce cases that are criminal in nature," Gonzalez pointed out.

For the meantime, the DOJ will have to wait for the completion of the investigation by the BMI, he said.

Gonzalez noted the initial findings of the BMI revealed the maritime license of Capt. Norberto Agroro, the skipper of the Solar I, expired in 2002.

The same initial findings also showed the required training certificates of the four other crew members also expired in March 2002.

"If that is the case, even the officials of the Marine Board may be held liable," Gonzalez pointed out.

He said the owners of the sunken vessel, Sunshine Maritime and Development Corp., may be held liable for damages.

Gonzalez noted Petron has made an assurance to help out in the oil spill with a $300-million pledge from the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) fund.

Petron, however, clarified the $300-million fund will cover the expenses for the cleanup operation, and will not necessarily be distributed to the claimants affected by the ecological disaster.

Gonzalez said the DOJ will also extend legal assistance to the victims of the oil spill in pursuing the damage suits against the owners of the vessel. - With Jose Rodel Clapano, Ronilo Pamonag, AFP