Pamalakaya backs filing of criminal charges vs owners of MT Princess Empress

A fisherfolk group on Thursday backed the filing of criminal charges against the company that operated the MT Princess Empress, a ship that sank and caused an oil spill in Oriental Mindoro in 2023.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said RDC Reield Marine Services should likewise extend financial compensation to over 18,000 members of the fishing community whose livelihood were affected by the massive spill. 

“Nararapat lamang na kasuhan ang may-ari ng lumbago na tanker na nagdulot ng mapaminsalang oil spill sa karagatan ng Mindoro Oriental noong nakaraang taon,” said  PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando Hicap in a press statement. 

(Appropriate charges should be filed against the owners of the tanker which caused the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro last year that caused a lot of damage to its waters.)

“Ito ay bahagi ng pananagutan ng kumpanya sa pangmatagalang pinsalang idinulot nito sa kabuhayan ng mahigit 18, 000 mangingisda mula sa ilang bayan ng Mindoro Oriental at mga apektadong karatig-lalawigan,” he said. 

(This is part of their accountability for the affected livelihood of more than 18,000 fisherfolk in Oriental Mindoro and its neighboring provinces.)

According to Hicap, data from the Center for Environmental Concerns showed the affected fishermen in the town of Pola lost at least P7,500 worth of monthly income individually  due to the oil spill. 

“Dapat ay tumbasan ng may-ari ng lumubog na barko ang nawalang kita ng mga mangingisda sa bawat buwan na tumatagas ang langis sa kanilang pangisdaan,” he added. 

(The owners of the sunken ship should compensate for the lost monthly income of the fisherfolk due to the oil spill in their fishing grounds.)

PAMALAKAYA said it would continue to monitor developments in the case and called on the public to seek accountability from the individuals responsible for the oil spill.

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice recommended the filing of charges against the corporate officers of the MT Princess Empress after they found that RDC Reield Marine Services submitted falsified documents, including the vessel’s Construction Certificate and Affidavit of Ownership.

“Following a comprehensive evaluation of affidavits and evidence, the panel of DOJ prosecutors uncovered irregularities in certain documents related to the construction and certificate of public convenience of M/T Princess Empress,” the DOJ said.

The MT Princess Empress sank on February 28 off Najuan, Oriental Mindoro while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel.