Ship intercepted by Coast Guard for suspected fuel pilferage

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday that it stopped a ship allegedly involved in fuel pilferage in Manila Bay.

PCG’s BRP Boracay intercepted MV Palawan at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday after learning that the latter had an “undetermined quantity of alleged smuggled diesel fuel on board.”

The vessel, with seven crew members, was en route to Navotas City.

“The ship crew said they took the fuel cargo from a tugboat,” the PCG said in a statement.

The PCG ship was headed to Bataan to augment the sunken Motor Tanker Jason Bradley operations, which was partially refloated on Thursday, when it spotted the suspicious vessel.

BRP Boracay towed MV Palawan to Pier 13, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, for further investigation.