Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21) — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said people should be held accountable for the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro that has affected nearly 150,000 people and disrupted the livelihood of over 13,000 fisherfolk.
All the details of the oil spill, we want to get into. we think there should be liabilities here — people — there should be criminal liabilities involved in this case,” he told reporters on Tuesday.Remulla is on top of the case buildup against those who should be held liable for the environmental catastrophe.The inter-agency committee conducting the probe has summoned the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for documents needed for the investigation on Thursday.From the PPA, (we need) the records of the port in Limay (Bataan) where the loading was done sa [on the] boat — the loading of the cargo. We want to find out exactly what kind of cargo was there,” Remulla said.The Justice chief, meanwhile, stressed that cleaning up the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro remains the top task to prevent further damage to areas already affected by the incident.Remulla, together with National Bureau of Investigation chief Medardo de Lemos, flew to the town of Pola to check the extent of the spill caused by an oil tanker that sank in February.It’s bigger than advertised,” Remulla said. “Meaning to say between Batangas and Mindoro, kalat na talaga sya [it has already spread]. And it’s there in Verde Island already.
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We have committed to the people there in Pola ang gagawin natin dito [on what we will do here]. When we meet on Thursday nandito ang Office of Civil Defense, NDRRMC. We will ask for a resolution na tayo na mismo mag-undertake ng cleanup [that we’ll undertake the cleanup ourselves] by hiring our own ROVs (remotely controlled vehicles),” he said.Remulla also pointed out the importance of the Verde Island area, which has already been affected.
“It is the most important, one of the most important areas for marine biodiversity in the world and it’s right there. Nakita namin yung slicks papunta ron, eh [We saw the slicks heading in that direction]. Very alarming,” he said.
