DOJ backs raps in relation to the Mindoro oil spill

In the wake of the oil disaster that contaminated nearby seas and caused many to lose their livelihood, the Department of Justice has recommended filing criminal charges against the owners of the MT Princess Empress and others for falsifying papers. The group of state prosecutors discovered that the business had submitted forged paperwork.

When the Princess Empress crashed off the shore of Naujan town on February 28, 2023, it was carrying 800,000 gallons of industrial fuel. This caused significant environmental damage as well as financial losses.

After reviewing the affidavits and additional evidence, the panel found "irregularities in certain documents," which led them to support filing charges for multiple counts of falsifying public documents and using falsified documents against the corporate officers of MT Princess Empress, representatives of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and a private individual.

It took some time for the names of the people who would be charged to become public.

The Revised Penal Code, as amended, contains several counts of falsification by a private individual, multiple uses of falsified documents under Article 172 in relation to Article 171 (2), and multiple counts of falsification of public or official documents under Article 171 (4).

Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano has recommended charging corporate officers of RDC, two crew members of MT Princess Empress, a private individual, and one Marina personnel member. The National Bureau of Investigation's Environmental Crime Division and Mayor Jennifer Cruz of Pola, Oriental Mindoro, filed criminal complaints that served as the basis for the initiation of the charges in June 2023.

Respondents in the first complaint included RDC Reield Marine Services Inc., its officers, several workers, 19 personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard, and two personnel of the Marina. In a statement to the public, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla promised that "negligence cannot be used as an excuse to destroy the environment and livelihood of people."

“The total area extent of the three ecosystems (mangrove areas, seagrass beds and coral reefs) that fall within the oil spill trajectories across the three provinces is estimated to hold an economic value of around P7 billion,” the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau said.

Via Philstar