8 nabbed for oil pilferage

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) arrested recently eight crewmen of two vessels who were supposedly involved in oil pilferage at the barge pool in Manila Bay, officials said yesterday.

The PCG identified the suspects as tugboat Iloilo crewmen Apolinar Gonzales, Ramon Pontanilla, Anthony Sendin, Rogelio Ederito, and Mario Dumalak; and three crew of M/T JV Enterprise crewmen Rodrigo Bacani Jr., Floresco Abum and Wodrofe Lacutin.

Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, deputy commandant for operations of the PCG, said all eight were caught in the act of pilfering diesel fuel from the tugboat to the tanker at around 10:30 p.m. last Monday by joint operatives of PCG and Port State Control Manila.

Initial investigation showed that tugboat Iloilo left Pier 13 at South Harbor last Sunday and docked alongside M/T JV Enterprise at the barge pool.

Tamayo said the operation was a response to earlier report they received about several vessels docked at the Manila Bay that have been involved in pilferage of fuel.

 The PCG official said charges of qualified theft would be filed against the tugboat’s five crewmen while the other three suspects will be charged with violating the anti-fencing law. – Edu Punay