Senate panel subpoenas owners of ships involved in Bataan oil spill
Coast guards began the manual scooping of oil from the cargo hold of Mirola 1 on Thursday. (Photo from Philippine Coast Guard/Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — A Senate panel ordered the issuance of a subpoena against the owners of the ships MKTR Jason Bradley and MV Mirola 1, which were involved in an oil spill incident in Bataan.
In a public hearing of the upper chamber’s committee on environment, natural resources, and climate change on Wednesday, panel head Senator Cynthia Villar asked for a subpoena against the ship owners.
READ: Permanent damage of oil spills
“In view of the absence of Mr. Rominick Ponesta, ship owner of MTKR Jason Bradley, and Ms. Mary Jane Obaldo, ship owner of MV Mirola 1, despite being notified of today’s hearing, I move that subpoena be issued to the aforementioned persons,” Villar declared in the hearing.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Sunken tanker Jason Bradley allegedly involved in oil smuggling – DOJ
Article continues after this advertisementSenate Majority Floor Leader Francis Tolentino supported the motion.
The MKTR Jason Bradley sank in the waters of Bataan on July 27, two days after MT Terranova overturned in the same province.
On the other hand, MV Mirola 1 ran aground off the coast in Mariveles, Bataan on July 31, which led to its capsizing.
However, Philippine Coast Guard Admiral Ronnie Gavan disclosed in a public hearing that MV Mirola 1 ran aground on July 23, the first incident before Terranova.
Both ships were reportedly sailing illegally, as they did not get any clearance from the PCG. —Arianne Denisse Cagsawa, INQUIRER.net intern
