Marina says sunken tanker’s certificate ‘not authentic’

The oil spill has been spotted within the vicinity waters of Barangay San Agapito in Verde Island, Batangas on March 20, 2023. (Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard)

MANILA, Philippines — The Maritime Industry Authority National Capital Region (Marina-NCR) on Monday denied ever issuing an amended Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) for MT Princess Empress, claiming that the said document was “not authentic.”

To recall, MT Princess Empress was the tanker carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel that sank on Feb.28 in Oriental Mindoro, causing an oil spill that reached several provinces.

“I just want to clarify as far as Marina NCR is concerned, as far as our records are concerned wala po kaming iniissue amended CPC sa particular vessel na Princess Empress, wala po akong pinipirmahan na CPC for that particular vessel,” Marina NCR Director Marc Pascua told reporters during a press briefing.

(I just want to clarify as far as Marina NCR is concerned, as far as our records are concerned, we did not issue an amended CPC to the private vessel Princess Empress, I did not sign any CPC for that particular vessel.)

“To my opinion, hindi siya authentic (it is not authentic), so to speak,” he added.

The CPC is an authorization issued by Marina to ships for commercial or public use.

Pascua said they only had a screening application, as issuing an amended CPC would require particular processes.

Meanwhile, Marina spokesperson Sharon Aledo said that the Department of Transportation is already investigating whether the CPC is falsified.

All this developed after a March 14 Senate inquiry into the oil spill, revealing that the shipowner RDC Reield Marine Services (RDC) was still updating its CPC to include MT Princess Empress but had already been allowing it to sail and transport oil.

This drew the ire of Senators against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for failing to present or mention the CPC during the inquiry immediately.

However, the PCG the night of that same day after the inquiry, posted on its social media page a copy of the CPC allegedly issued by the Marina to MT Princess Empress in November 2022.

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