PCG set to file admin case vs owner of MV Mirola 1 that sank off Mariveles

Coast guards began the manual scooping of oil from the cargo of MV Mirola 1. (File photo from Philippine Coast Guard/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is preparing to file an administrative case against the owner of MV Mirola 1.

This is the vessel carrying diesel oil that ran aground in shallow waters off the coast of Sitio Quiapo, Barangay Biaan in Mariveles last month.

The information came from Coast Guard Station Bataan Commander Michael John Encina.

READ: DOJ eyes class suit vs those liable for Bataan maritime mishaps

“Si [MV] Mirola po is already contained na,” he told reporters in an online briefing on Saturday.

(MV Mirola 1 is already contained.)

“We are now in the process ng kanyang administrative case. Actually, mayroon na po tayo dyan. Next week po, magkakaroon na tayo ng tinatawag natin na ‘summoning’ nung may-ari,” he continued.

(We are now processing the administrative case. Actually, we already have that. Next week, we will have what we call a summoning of the owner.)

Encina also said that the timeline of retrofitting and repair of the vessel depends on its owner.

“For that aspect, since stable na po siya and the vessel is already wrecked, sira na po siya, the retrofitting and tinatawag natin na repair nito will be based on the decision na ng may-ari,” he replied when asked for the repair timeline.

(For that aspect, since it is already stable and the vessel is wrecked and damaged, the retrofitting and what we call the repair will be based on the decision of the owner.)

“Ang sa atin naman po dito is more on administrative case nya and possible criminal case upon the conclusion and guidance of our legal counsels,” Encina continued.

(What we have here is more of an administrative case and a possible criminal case, depending on the conclusion and guidance of our legal counsels.)

READ: Sunken tanker Jason Bradley allegedly involved in oil smuggling – DOJ

The commander expressed relief that MV Mirola 1 is already stable.

“At least strike one na po tayo. Naayos na po natin ‘yung isang maritime incident dito,” he said.

(At least we’ve struck one off the list. We’ve already resolved one maritime incident here.)

Aside from MV Mirola 1, two more boats figured in mishaps in Bataan last month – the motor tanker (MTKR) Terranova that sank off Limay on July 25 and the MTKR Jason Bradley that capsized due to bad weather in the waters off Mariveles on July 27.

As of 7:30 a.m. on Friday (August 23), the PCG said over 178,000 liters of oil had been collected from MTKR Terranova.

Meanwhile, resealing and patching of the manhole and air vents of MTKR Jason Bradley are ongoing in preparation for the refloating operation.