Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Oil smuggling may have caused tanker to sink: group
MANILA -- A hole found on oil tanker Solar 1 that sank off Guimaras Island last August 11 was deliberately made, said a team tasked to look into the incident.
The fact-finding panel from the Department of Justice (DOJ) is now looking at possible oil smuggling activities or "paihi" operations, wherein bunker oil cargo is illegally pilfered into another vessel using submersible pumps, in the sinking of the tanker.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. said ship captain Norberto Aguro, his crew, as well as some officials of Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation (SMDC), owner of Solar I, will be called back to testify on the smuggling angle.
"That's an angle that they are looking at now because there had been many complaints of smuggling through the same process, except in this case, the boat sank. All these circumstances point to smuggling," he said.
Gonzalez said in Solar 1's case, Petron might be the victim since they are the owner of the cargo supposedly being pilfered.
Citing maritime industry sources, Undersecretary Fidel Exconde Jr. said the Japanese ship Shinsei Maru that undertook an underwater survey using video of the sunken Solar I saw the following:
* triangular shaped hole in the port side of Solar I
* scratches on different parts of the vessel
* open valves on some compartments where the transported oil is stored.
"These findings bolster the theory that another ship was traveling alongside Solar I when it sank and it probably caused the triangular hole in the hull of Solar I. Moreover, these findings also point out to the possibility that the unknown vessel traveling alongside Solar I was engaged in 'paihi' operations," Exconde said.
Exconde said the people behind the "paihi" operation most likely used submersible pumps, the same type of pumps used to dewater Solar I, to illegally pilfer the fuel, while the holes couldn't have been done by the waves.
"The video taken on the sunken ship allegedly shows that the valves for the compartments where they stored transported oil are open. These valves are supposed to be closed and are even sealed to prevent pilferage," he said.
The Philippine Coast Guard was likewise directed by the DOJ panel to produce a copy of the video so the reports could be verified.
Earlier, the DOJ recommended the indictment of Filipino and Japanese incorporators of SMDC for possible violation of the anti-dummy law.
Based on the findings of the DOJ task force after it conducted two hearings, SMDC's incorporators and officers are: Hiroyasu Yamaguchi, chairman of the board and treasurer; Mototsugi Yamaguchi, member of the board and vice president; Tomoki Tsubomoto, board member; Hiromi Irishika, board member; Clemente Cancio, president and board member; Dionisio Parulan, incorporator; Roberto Mena, board member; Gregorio Flores, board member and corporate secretary; Angelita Buenaventura, board member.
The DOJ said the captain of Solar I should also be criminally charged for negligence and reckless impudence resulting in multiple homicide and damages.
The sinking of the vessel resulted in a massive oil spill affecting the provinces of Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, polluting beaches, coral reefs, diving sites, and marine sanctuary, and disrupting the livelihood of fishermen.
Petron Corporation got off with a relatively light penalty because it simply chartered the vessel. Both the oil firm and ship owner, however, were asked to pay for torts or damages for the oil spill. (ECV/Sunnex)
(September 19, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
