DOJ to file charges against owners of sunken MT Princess Empress
The Department of Justice (DoJ) has recommended pursuing criminal charges against those deemed responsible for the 2023 sinking of the MT Princess Empress, which led to an oil spill in Oriental Mindoro. During its investigation, the DoJ uncovered irregularities in various documents related to the construction and certification of the vessel.
Entities facing potential charges include RDC Reield Marines Services Inc., the company behind MT Princess Empress, alongside certain corporate officers and staff. Additionally, the list includes 19 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel, two individuals from the Maritime Industry Authority, and a private citizen. The charges span multiple offenses, including falsification of public documents, their repeated use, and falsification of official records.
The initiative to file charges was spearheaded by the National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crime Division and Mayor Jennifer Cruz of Palo, Oriental Mindoro. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stressed the importance of holding accountable those responsible for the oil spill, emphasizing that negligence cannot excuse environmental devastation and the disruption of livelihoods.
MT Princess Empress sank off Naujan in Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28, 2023, while on its journey from Bataan to Iloilo, carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil. The resulting oil spill affected the waters of Antique, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan.
The environmental repercussions were severe, with 5,185 hectares of marine habitat in Oriental Mindoro and Western Visayas, including 2,252 hectares of coral reefs, experiencing disruption. At least 61 sites in Oriental Mindoro, including beach resorts, were impacted, along with seven marine protected areas.
The total environmental cost of the incident, particularly the damage to coral reefs and mangroves, was estimated at over P9.52 billion. Additionally, damages and losses to fisheries, agriculture, and livestock in three regions exceeded P5 billion.
News: DOJ to file charges against owners of sunken MT Princess Empress
