Justice Department claims ill-fated ships in Bataan involved in smuggling

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the involvement of the three vessels in the Bataan oil spill in smuggling, Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said on Saturday, August 18, 2024.

Vasquez said during a media forum that investigators had noted several warning signs involving the M/T Jason Bradley, the M/V Mirola 1 and the M/T Terranova.

The M/T Terranova sank on July 25 off the coast of Limay, Bataan, while the MTKR Jason Bradley capsized in the waters of Mariveles on July 27.

The M/V Mirola 1 ran aground in shallow waters off Sitio Quiapo, Barangay Biaan, Mariveles on July 31. The vessel was carrying diesel fuel.

These incidents have resulted in oil spills in the waters of Bataan and the adjacent coastlines, particularly in Cavite. The MT Terranova was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial oil at the time.

According to Vasquez, the Jason Bradley has an oil smuggling case pending with the Department of Justice after one of the vessels fled the scene of a joint oil smuggling operation by the National Bureau of Investigation’s Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) last December.

“Iyong Mirola, mas matindi. It is supposed that Iyan is seized and not registered, no records, nothing, not even insurance. Same goes for Jason Bradley. The owner of Jason Bradley hired a long time ago to rescue him. Kasi kailangan nating malaman kung ang tatlong iyan ay kenektado, magkakalapit, lapit eh,” Vasquez said.

“All these sinkings happened within about five to ten nautical miles of each other. That’s another red flag,” he added.

Vasquez also noted that the MT Terranova had been sailing for 26 hours, but had only traveled a distance of three nautical miles.

“Pero, three nautical miles long ang nalampas niya, ang nalayo niya. Saan nagpunta? Isa pa, naglayag noong parating na iyong bagyo. Normally kung isang maritime expert ka, you go south. There’s nothing wrong, it can’t hurt. Huwag kang paikot-ikot diyan,” he said.

“But, we were three nautical miles away, and the ship was going to crash. The ship was going to crash and it caused engine problems. That is the subject of investigation,” he added.

Justice Minister Jesus Crispin Remulla previously indicated that he believes these ill-fated vessels were involved in “pa-ihi” or the transfer of oil to smaller vessels.

Vasquez said the MT Terra Nova’s insurer and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) are prepared to compensate victims of the oil spill that occurred when the ship sank off the coast of Bataan.

He said about 21 residents of Bataan and 31,000 residents of Cavite have been identified as likely claimants for the compensation. (TPM/SuStar Philippines)