Five ships suspected guilty for oil spill

NCadmin · Admin Number of posts: 680 Registration date: 2007-05-30

Five ships suspected for oil spill

Two weeks will still be waited for the result of the sample oil taken from the five ships and the oil spill at the Dumaguete city port said Commander Robert Patrimonio, station commander of the Dumaguete City Coastguard Station.

According to Commander Patrimonio, they got samples of oil from the ships who were present in the area during the oil spill and these samples are now sent to the Coastguard Manila who will do the examination.

The five ships taken with samples include BRP Benguet of the Philippine Navy which docked at the city port to transport the members of the military from Bohol who are now assigned in the province, Cokaliong, Siara Joy and two other ships.

If the oil spill at the port matches with any of the five ships, the coastguard will immediately make an apprehension report so that the shipping company could formally face with the investigation that the Coastguard Station Dumaguete would perform. Patrimonio said that he will be the hearing officer for the process.

However, Commander Patrimonio cleared out that possibly, the oil spill was only accidental since only a small amount dripped into the water. Even though, if proven to have really caused the oil spill, the shipping vessel will be ordered to pay P10,000.

Patrimonio also admitted that the fine imposed is only a small amount so he has recommended to his commanding officer to have the fine raised to a higher amount so the ship captains would always be cautious.