A thick layer of oil can be seen across the water’s surface approximately four kilometers from the coastline in Tibaguin Island, Hagonoy Bulacan. The oil spill in Manila Bay has affected the municipal waters of several areas, including Bulacan, Cavite, and Bataan.
MANILA, Philippines — Sunken Motor Tanker Jason Bradley is allegedly involved in an oil smuggling case pending at the Department of Justice (DOJ), its Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said on Tuesday.
In an ambush interview after an inter-agency investigation into the Bataan oil spill, Vasquez said the Bureau of Customs has issued a seizure order against MTKR Jason Bradley for its alleged involvement in oil smuggling.
READ: DOJ eyes class suit vs those liable for Bataan maritime mishaps
“Yan ay ayon sa imbestigasyon ng NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) nung binerify nila yung mga record,” he said.
(That is according to the NBI’s investigation when they verified the records.)
“So parang merong sabihin na lang natin history ng ganyang klase, and then meron din raw data sila na tinitignang anggulo na pati yung [MV] Mirola 1 ay involved din sa mga illegal activity,” he added.
(So let’s just say that it seems there’s a history of such activities, and they are also looking at raw data suggesting that even MV Mirola 1 is involved in illegal activities.)
Citing the result of the NBI’s probe, Vasquez said MTKR Jason Bradley was caught transferring oil to smaller vessels. This activity is locally called “pa-ihi.”
He also said MTKR Jason Bradley and MV Mirola 1 are not registered and went to sail even without clearance from the Philippine Coast Guard.
“Before any ship or vessel sails, they have to get clearance from the Philippine Coast Guard,” he added.
Vasquez also disclosed that oil smuggling is one of the possible angles that the DOJ is looking at in its probe into the maritime incidents.
“One of the possibilities kasi ‘yan kasi sa lahat ng mga sakuna tinitignan mo ang mga ‘yan kung ito ba ay intentional o negligence o kuntsabahan, etc,” he said.
(That’s one of the possibilities because, in all disasters, you investigate if it’s intentional or negligence or conspiracy, etc.)
Last Tuesday, the owner of MTKR Terranova, another vessel that sank in Manila Bay, denied its alleged involvement in oil smuggling.
READ: Owner of sunken ship in Manila Bay denies smuggling allegations
Its owner, Porta Vaga Ship Management, denied the allegation after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told dzRH that authorities were investigating if the vessel was involved in oil smuggling.