PCG mulls administrative charges vs MV Hong Hai 16 owner

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Sunday it is looking at the possible filing of administrative cases against the shipowner of MV Hong Hai 16, which capsized in the waters off Occidental Mindoro on April 15. 

PCG deputy spokesperson Commander Michael John Encina, however, stressed that they are still focusing on the search and recovery operations following the fatal incident, and on mitigating the possible oil spill from the vessel. 

“Diyan muna tayo nakatuon before we interject or before we proceed dito naman sa administrative cases na posible naman din po nating i-file against dito sa may-ari once na ma-prove natin upon our conduct of the investigation, na may mga possible administrative charges na pwedeng ibigay sa kanila,” Encina said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(Let's focus on that first before we interject or before we proceed with the administrative cases that we can file against the owner once proven in the investigation.)

The Coast Guard earlier issued a demand letter to the owner of MV Hong Hai 16 to ensure full cooperation in the ongoing response operations off the coast of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro.

Nine crew members reportedly died due to the incident, while four others remain missing, said Encina.

The cause of the incident has also yet to be determined, but the PCG official emphasized that they are not discounting the possibility of a stability problem in the vessel.

So far, Encina reiterated that there were no signs of an oil spill in the surrounding waters where the ship overturned.

“Sa ngayon po, wala pa pong nai-report sa atin na may nakita na ‘yung ating response team on the field. And even the coastal communities, we are also in coordination dito sa ating mga coastal barangays na kapag sila ay may mga nakikitang [oil spill],” he said.

(So far, there have been no reports given to us regarding any oil spill. We are also in coordination with the coastal barangays to inform us if they notice oil spills.)

The Marine Environmental Protection Enforcement Response Group – Southern Tagalog earlier deployed 10 segments or 250 meters of oil spill boom to mitigate possible oil spill resulting from the capsizing. —RF, GMA Integrated News