Press Release August 25, 2006 JAMBY: SOLAR 1 - IDENTITY CRISIS MAKES SHIP NOT SEA WORTHY The incident involving the oil spill in Guimaras Island is a wake-up call. There is more to it than meets the eye. I have received information coming from concerned maritime officials that, the MT Solar I, the vessel owned by Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation was a vessel bound for disaster from the very day it arrived in Philippine shores. So that the Filipino people may know, and in the interest of truth, I bring to your attention the following facts based on available records:
These facts are not being revealed by the owner and PETRON, which chartered the vessel. Is the being done deliberately? Ito ba ay isang cover-up? Further, I strongly condemn the use by the Philippine Coast Guard of chemical dispersants in the clean-up. This is a clear case of double kill! Instead of using chemical dispersants which kill marine life, PETRON and Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation should pay for the use of bioremediation, which will not harm human or marine life. Finally, I challenge Mrs. Arroyo to create instead an independent body to probe this alleged incident. The MARINA which allowed the registration of a badly modified vessel cannot be an investigator, judge and executioner at the same time. The tragedy will only get worst. Due to the lax response of government in handling this issue, the oil spill is now expected to move and reach the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan when the Northeast Monsoon winds shift by next week. This incident will be marked not only as the worst oil spill in the Philippines but also as on the worst in the world. This was tragedy abetted and aided by corruption and negligence. Ilan pa kayang mga floating coffins and bumibiyahe sa karagatan ng Pilipinas? |
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