THE Department of Justice (DoJ) has recommended the filing of criminal charges against the parties responsible for the 2023 sinking of the MT Princess Empress that resulted in an oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.

The DoJ said the panel of government prosecutors uncovered irregularities in certain documents related to the construction and certificate of public convenience of MT Princess Empress.

This file photo taken on March, 21, 2023 shows an image of the MT Princess Empress from Japan's remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), which located the tanker some 400 meters deep from where it sank off Balingawan Point in Naujan town, Oriental Mindoro. IMAGE FROM FACEBOOK PAGE OF GOV HUMERLITO DOLOR

Among those to be charged were RDC Reield Marines Services Inc., the shipping company that owns and operates MT Princess Empress; some of its corporate officers and employees; 19 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel; two Maritime Industry Authority personnel; and a private individual.

The charges include multiple counts of falsification of public documents by a private individual, multiple use of falsified documents, and multiple counts of falsification of public or official documents.

The filing of charges was initiated by the National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crime Division and Mayor Jennifer Cruz of Palo, Oriental Mindoro.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla gave assurances that those responsible for the oil spill would be held accountable.

"Negligence cannot be used as an excuse to destroy the environment and livelihood of people. It is important to be diligent on land and on our waters," Remulla said in a statement.

MT Princess Empress sank off Naujan in Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28, 2023, from Bataan en route to Iloilo.

The oil tanker was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank.

The resulting oil spill affected the waters of Antique, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Palawan.

It caused disruption to 5,185 hectares of marine habitat in Oriental Mindoro and Western Visayas, including 2,252 hectares of corals.

The Department of Tourism reported that at least 61 sites in Oriental Mindoro, including beach resorts, were affected. Seven marine protected areas were reportedly damaged.

The environmental damage from the incident, particularly to coral reefs and mangroves, was estimated at over P9.52 billion, while damages and losses to fisheries, agriculture and livestock in three regions reached more than P5 billion.

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