Coast Guard to stop Nokor ship, crew from leaving ‘indefinitely’

THE NORTH Korean vessel MV Jin Teng remains docked at the Naval Supply Depot inside the Subic Bay Freeport. The vessel arrived in Subic Bay on March 3 and barred by the government from leaving the Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard has served a hold departure order on the ship’s crew, preventing them from leaving as well. ALLAN MACATUNO / INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Maritime law enforcers in this former American military base are under instruction to prevent the crew of a North Korean cargo ship, impounded by the Philippine government in line with a set of United Nations sanctions against North Korea, from leaving indefinitely.

Commander Armando Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson, said the Coast Guard, while waiting further instructions about the impounded ship, is under instruction from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to prevent the ship and its crew from leaving Subic indefinitely.

“The PCG (Coast Guard) will comply with whatever directive the DFA will give us,” said Balilo.

Charles Jose, DFA spokesperson, said the Philippine government would continue to hold the North Korean ship, MV Jin Teng, until an ongoing investigation is finished.

Hold departure order

Coast Guard officials on Tuesday served a hold departure order to the ship’s crew.

Lt. Commander Jonathan Marfil, station commander of Coast Guard Subic station, said the notice was received by Han Thae Hwan, captain of MV Jin Teng, around 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

“We served the notice that directs them not to leave Subic Bay,” said Marfil “The ship captain did not object,” he told reporters here.

Marfil was accompanied by representatives of the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine National Police and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which oversees port operations here, in serving the hold departure order.

Speaking through South Korean reporter Ku Bon Kuk, the crewmen said they would cooperate with the Philippine government.

UN guidelines

In a text message, DFA spokesperson Jose said the DFA has not been provided guidelines by the United Nations on how to handle the North Korean ship.

UN officials, he said, have yet to confirm their visit to Subic to check the ship and its crew.

“They (UN officials) may or may not come. That will depend on the result of our investigation,” he said.

“The crew will eventually be allowed to leave the country as soon as investigation has been completed,” he added.

The Coast Guard impounded the ship on Saturday to enforce a new round of UN sanctions against North Korea in response to its Jan. 6 nuclear test and recent missile launch.

The ship was loaded with a cargo of palm kernel expeller, a by-product of palm oil production which serves as ingredient for farm animal feed.