Push Admin

Mindoro oil spill: Findings on MT Princess Empress construction may be out this April

Article (news)

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Members of the Japan Coast Guard Disaster Relief Team help in the containment of the oil spill from MT Princess Empress on March 17, 2023. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/03/17/20230317-oilspill-japan-coastguard-159.jpg"/><figcaption>Members of the Japan Coast Guard Disaster Relief Team help in the containment of the oil spill from MT Princess Empress on March 17, 2023. <em>Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) on Tuesday said it might release this month the findings of a committee that looked into the construction of the sunken MT Princess Empress, which leaked thick oil into waters off Oriental Mindoro. </p><p>The fact-finding committee is validating reports that the tanker was a repurposed scrap ship, the Marina earlier said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/03/16/23/witness-claims-mt-princess-empress-was-an-old-ship-turned-into-oil-tanker">Witness claims sunken MT Princess Empress is an old vessel turned into oil tanker</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/05/23/marina-forms-fact-finding-panel-on-mt-princess-empress">Mindoro oil spill: Marina creates fact-finding committee on MT Princess Empress</a></li></ul><p>The panel went to Sorsogon, Bicol, Metro Manila, and Batangas to &quot;visit the shipyards that supposedly constructed&quot; the ship, said Marina Administrator Hernani Fabia. </p><p>&quot;Maybe middle of this month or late this month, we will have the result of the fact-finding team,&quot; Fabia told Palace reporters. </p><p>&quot;I would suggest we have to wait,&quot; he added, when asked if currently available information could help the fact-finding panel.</p><p>&quot;There are so many information not verified. I do not want to add to more misinformation,&quot; the official said. </p><p>Fabia earlier said that based on their records, the ship was a &quot;new construction.&quot; </p><p>But citing witness statements, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla had said the ship was rebuilt from scrap. Sen. Risa Hontiveros also alleged that the tanker was 50 years old and had not bee refurbished according to standards.</p><p>The results of the Marina investigation will be submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). </p><p>Marina earlier issued two cease and desist orders against the remaining vessels of the company that owns MT Princess Empress. </p><p>The agency is inspecting the company&#x27;s remaining vessels to check their compliance with regulations, Marina Enforcement Service (ES) Director Ronald Bandalaria said last week. </p><p>On April 4, maritime authorities found probable cause to <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/04/23/maritime-authorities-find-basis-to-sue-sunken-tanker-owner" target="_blank">file administrative charges</a> against the owner of the ship, which was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it went down in rough seas in late February. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2578322" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The Marina said it might release this month the findings of a committee that looked into the construction of the sunken MT Princess Empress. 

Mindoro oil spill: Findings on MT Princess Empress construction may be out this April

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Mindoro oil spill: Findings on MT Princess Empress construction may be out this April

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 11, 2023 01:47 PM PHT

|

Updated April 11, 2023 02:08 PM PHT

Read More:

Marina

Maritime Industry Authority

fact-finding committee

MT Princess Empress

Mindoro oil spill

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.