TWO officials of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Region have been dismissed in connection with the sinking of the motor of tanker Princess Empress in February last year, causing massive oil spill that affected Oriental Mindoro and nearby areas, the Department of Transportation said yesterday.
The DOTr identified the officials as Marina-Region V director Jaime Bea and engineer Joe Buban.
The tanker was carrying some 822,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it figured in the mishap off Naujan town in Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28, 2023. Nearly 400,000 liters of fuel oil leaked out, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
In June last year, the NBI’s Environmental Crime Division yesterday filed criminal complaints before the Department of Justice against 35 individuals, including the owners of MT Princess Empress, government regulators, and officials of other agencies.
Among charges were falsification of the certificate of public convenience or CPC, against seven incorporators and directors of tanker owner RDC Reield Marine Services Company; the tanker captain and six crew members; and 19 officials from the Philippine Coast Guard.
The DOTr said Bea was “culpable of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.”
“We have had sinkings before, but no one has been held to account. This time all parties, whether private or public, will be held accountable. There will be no exception. Our policy is zero tolerance to shortcuts, official negligence and disregard of rules. The rule of law, good governance and best practices must prevail throughout the department and its agencies,” said the Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
He said Bea signed and approved the certificate of ownership/certificate of Philippine Registry of Princess Empress “in direct contravention of established rules and procedures, on the venue of registration of Trampers.”
Bea, he said, also failed to maintain the integrity of the processes in the domestic shipping section and enforce the provisions of the Citizen’s Charter, which allowed Buban to process documents outside the scope of his duties.
The actions caused millions in damage to government in response operations and tarnished the image and integrity of Marina, Bautista also said.
