Gov’t to use ‘Mindoro template’ for Bataan oil spill damage claims

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. (Photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the government will make sure that people affected by the oil spill caused by three separate maritime incidents in Bataan province are compensated.

Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez on Saturday said the government has decided to utilize the template it used in response to the Mindoro oil spill in 2023 for maritime disasters, including the latest Bataan mishaps, to “claim damages and establish liabilities.

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“Previous to that, wala, parang (there’s none, I think) we just let it pass. It’s high time, the Philippines being an archipelagic country, that we should really focus on making sure that those responsible will answer for it criminally, civilly and administratively,” he said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

The DOJ has mounted a fact-finding initiative over the sinking of MT Terranova and MTKR Jason Bradley, and the grounded MV Mirola 1 in Bataan that all took place in the last two weeks.

Vasquez said this series of maritime mishaps had raised many red flags and indicated that the three incidents may be interconnected.

“Maraming question. Ayaw ko lang sabihin sa ngayon kasi nga ongoing pa ‘yung fact-finding (There are many questions I don’t want to say them right now because the fact-finding is still ongoing),” he said.

“Magkakalapit lang ‘yon. Siguro (They are near each other. Maybe) within five three to five nautical miles or kilometers away from each other. So, you can draw a lot of conclusions,” he added.

Vasquez said the DOJ has also tasked the National Investigation Bureau to do a parallel investigation with the fact-finding activity that the Department of Environment and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are conducting.

The official said the government would also pursue institutional claims on top of demanding individual compensation for the fisherfolk and other entities affected by the oil spill.

This refers to claims of the government agencies that responded in the consecutive incidents, such as the PCG, Departments of Health, Tourism, Trade and Industry, and the Interior and Local Government, among others.

“Lahat ay pinagsama-sama ngayon para mag-file at iipunin iyong lahat ng ebidensiya at titingnan ngayon noong International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund na iyan at babayaran. Iyon po ang sa Mindoro (We are putting them together while gathering all the evidence then the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund will see and pay. That’s the template in Mindoro),” Vasquez said.

“Ganoon din ang ginagawa natin, nagkaroon na ng first meeting at ito, fact-finding pa lamang (We are doing the same here, we had the first meeting but still just fact-finding,” he added.

The PCG reported Thursday that capping of valves and high-level alarm pipes of MTKR Terranova was done and the working barge and receiving tanker have been positioned on site.

“Very thin oil sheens are still present, but control measures are in place, including oil spill booms laid, skimmers on site and oil dispersants being employed, as necessary,” the PCG said in a statement.

Assistance

Meanwhile, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, other local officials and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources conducted initial relief effort to support fisherfolk affected by the oil spill.

A total of 1,612 beneficiaries, covering all registered fisherfolk in Barangay San Rafael IV, Noveleta, received the first wave of assistance.

Remulla had declared a state of calamity in the towns of Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon and Ternate.