Sen. Pia hits gov't inaction on legal cases in Guimaras oil spill

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today deplored the Arroyo government's failure to file criminal and administrative charges against those responsible for the Guimaras oil spill almost one year after the incident which has been described as the "worst environmental disaster" in the country's history.

Cayetano made the statement in reaction to news quoting Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela who expressed disappointment over the inaction of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in pursuing charges against oil company Petron and Sunshine Maritime Development Corp., which operated the ill-fated Solar I tanker.

Cayetano said the government's inaction "contradicted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's claim that Guimaras was already 'back on its feet' in her recent State of the Nation Address."

"I don't think there will be a closure to this issue until justice is fully served. All those responsible for the oil spill should be charged before the courts and held accountable for the damage they wrought on the environment and the people's livelihood."

She added that compensating the affected residents through the International Oil Pollution Convention (IOPC) fund is not enough, considering that serious violations of local maritime and environment laws were committed.

"Why did the President downplay the real status of the Guimaras oil spill in her SONA? Why has the DOJ refused to lift a finger to hail those responsible to court? Is the government covering up for the guilty parties?" she asked.

Cayetano pointed out that the investigation of the Special Board of Marine Inquiry last year placed direct responsibility on Petron and Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. She said the special board blamed the vessel's sinking to Sunshine Maritime's failure to follow regulations, policies and requirements for the seaworthiness of its vessel, as well as its captain's lack of adequate training and judgment errors. The inquiry also found Petron directly liable for overloading Solar I by at least 150 tons, causing instability and rendering the tanker "unseaworthy." On the other hand, the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, which Cayetano chaired in the 13th Congress, came out with a comprehensive bill that would deal with future oil spills and pollution. The landmark measure was signed into law last month as RA 9483 or the "Oil Spill Liability Act of 2007."

"Curiously, the passage of the Oil Spill Liability Act of 2007 was also conspicuously omitted in President Arroyo's SONA, even if she cited other laws that were passed during the previous Congress, as well as the projects of her political allies."

"In fact, Guimaras was only mentioned in her speech in the course of discussing the RO-RO route in Western Visayas. The issue was not given the attention it deserved, considering it was one of the most terrible disasters to hit the country last year."

[Note, the exact passage on Guimaras in PGMA's 7th SONA last July 23 went: "Iloilo connects to Guimaras via Jordan Wharf. We thank Congress for the P900 million oil spill calamity fund to save the environment of Guimaras. I thank once again the previous Congress. It is back on its feet. The other side of the island will connect to Bacolod soon because we started building the Sibunag RORO Port last May on recommendation of Governor, now Congressman, Rahman Nava."]