The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Saturday revealed parties involved in the Mindoro oil spill will be facing criminal charges.
DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said administrative charges will also be filed against government personnel involved in the incident.
“Ang tinutumbok natin ay iyong criminal and administrative liabilities which are the purposes of the earlier Mindoro oil spill investigation,” Vasquez told a news forum in Quezon City.
‘As we speak, dalawang kaso na kriminal ang pending ngayon dahil sa Mindoro oil spill,” he added.
With regardt to the Bataan oil spill, Vasquez said they have already talked to Bataan Gov. Abet Garcia and Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla.
The two local officials identified roughly 21 inhabitants of Bataan and 31,000 inhabitants of Cavite as probable claimants of the compensation.
Criminal complaints for falsification of public documents and use of falsified documents were filed in connection with the Mindoro oil spill.
Vasquez said the cases are pending in court and warrants of arrest are expected to be issued against officials of the Philippine Coast Guard.
A case was also filed by the Ombudsman against government officials who issued the licenses that allowed the Princess Empress to sail.
“And incidentally ayon sa DOTr (Department of Transportation), iyong mga regional director at saka iyong engineer na nag-issue ng lisensiya ng Princess Empress, dismissed from service na sila,” he added.
The DOTr earlier affirmed the dismissal of two officials of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in connection with the sinking of the motor tanker Princess Empress in February 2023.
The sinking caused a massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro and other areas.
In his letter to MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista confirmed the findings of MARINA that Region IV director Jaime Bea and Engr. Jose B. Buban are guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service in relation to the incident involving Princess Empress.
Vasquez said the Mindoro case will be used as the template for the Bataan oil spill, as well as other oil spill cases in the country. | PND
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