Class suit eyed over Bataan oil spill

MANILA, Philippines — The owners of the three vessels that spilled oil after sinking or capsizing off Bataan within days of each other may be held criminally liable, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“We’re not talking about an accident; we’re talking about a crime,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters yesterday, adding the incidents might be “interconnected.” He did not elaborate.

“A crime has been committed against our people and the environment,” he pointed out.

“We’re looking into an angle of a class suit already filed by the fishermen against the owners and others who may be responsible for this. The filing of cases continues because there really is crime here,” he said at a briefing at the DOJ.

Also at the briefing were representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Remulla appeared alongside his brother, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, whose province has been affected by the oil spill. The governor said his goal is not only to “ascertain the truth” but to “seek compensation for affected Caviteños.”

“They’re so pitiful,” the governor said in Filipino, referring to the 25,000 fisherfolk whose livelihoods are jeopardized by the marine environmental damage. “Their catch reek of gasoline.”

The Calabarzon division of the Office of Civil Defense reported that Cavite is losing P17.9 million daily since the implementation of a “no-catch zone” in the waters of Cavite on Wednesday.

Bacoor, Kawit, Maragondon, Naic, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza and Ternate are now under a state of calamity.

The Remullas and the PCG convened at the DOJ headquarters for an emergency meeting to discuss holding the vessels’ owners accountable. The secretary did not discuss details of cases being readied against the operators of the vessels.

The governor assured families of affected fisherfolk they would receive P10,000 each.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, for his part, said at a briefing by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council that the government – through Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista – is in constant communication with the owner of Terra Nova to ensure the safest and expedient control of the oil spill.

“He (Bautista) assured me that he’s in constant communication with the owner and assured me that this will be done in the most expedient and safest way possible,” Abalos said.

He said the operator of the tanker would be made to answer for negligence.

Investigators, he said, would have to check if there was negligence or if the incident was “act of God or fortuitous.”

Abalos said authorities may also have to review some protocols. “Why are there so many cases of sinking? This is no longer a joke,” he said. “I’m for the review of policies altogether, let’s review the gaps.”

The MT Terra Nova capsized on July 25 nearly four nautical miles off Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan, killing one crew member and spilling 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil into the water.

MKTR Jason Bradley sank on July 27 about 600 yards from the coast of Mariveles, Bataan, carrying 5,500 liters of diesel. The company operating it earlier denied the vessel contained fuel cargo.

Recently, a third tanker, the MV Mirola 1, ran aground in Mariveles. The mishap resulted in an oil leak. The Bureau of Customs is investigating if the boat’s cargo of oil was smuggled.