By Marcus Suner

A Japanese remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) operating from the ship Shin Nichi Maru located the sunken tanker MT Princess Empress almost a month after it capsized, according to Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor.

According to Office of Civil Defense Spokesperson Benardo Alejandro IV, after the ROV provides an assessment report on the actual condition of the submerged vessel, it will be used by the authorities as a “basis” for further steps.

Eight experts from the United States of America have also arrived just this week to provide “rapid environmental assessments of affected areas,” according to the Philippine Information Agency. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has provided the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with satellite imagery to boost assessment efforts and has also given the University of the Philippines-Marine Sciences Institute support for scientific modeling to study the trajectory of the oil spill. 

In terms of the current scale of the spill, recent reports have shown that it has spread wide and reached areas as far as Batangas down to Palawan.

“Criminal Liabilities”

In a statement to reporters on March 21, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stressed that “there should be criminal liabilities involved in this case.” 

The Department of Justice has subpoenaed the Maritime Industry Authority, the PCG, and the Philippine Ports Authority for relevant documents necessary for the ongoing investigation.

“We want to find out exactly what kind of cargo was there”, Remulla said while reiterating that the cleaning up of the oil spill still remains the top priority at the moment.

As of March 20, 2023, around 32, 661 families have been affected, and around PHP 28.3 million worth of assistance has been dispensed by the government, non-governmental organizations, and other partner institutions and groups.

Task Force Leadership

When questioned by reporters in an ambush interview, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected suggestions to appoint an official to head the task force deployed in the area, stressing that “there’s no need [for it]”. 

He emphasized that the head of operations is already the PCG, headed by Admiral Artemio Abu.

Thumbnail from Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor