Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20) — Officials of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) found to have engaged in falsification of documents will face fines or suspension in relation to a sunken oil tanker, an official warned Monday.
“Mayroon yang fine, may mga sanctions din kapag may nakita kami spurious or hindi po valid at hindi authentic na mga documents, meron din kaming proseso diyan,” MARINA legal service director Sharon Aledo said, citing MARINA Circular 120 or the circular on offenses and penalties.
[Translation: There will be fines and sanctions if we find spurious, invalid, and fake documents, we have a process.]
Aledo also told reporters that maritime enterprises or domestic shipping operators may face suspension or revocation of their Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) if they are found to be involved in falsification of documents.
In a social media post, the Philippine Coast Guard shared a copy of the CPC issued by the MARINA to MT Princess Empress in November 2022.
READ: PCG: Tanker that caused Mindoro oil spill has permit to operate
The CPC contains a signature of a certain \”Mark Pascua, MARINA franchising director,\” allowing the MT Princess Empress to sail.
However, during Monday’s media briefing, Marc Pascua said he is the regional director of MARINA for Metro Manila, and not the franchising director.
