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Children play on the beach in Rosario, Cavite on August 1, 2024, days after the MTKR Terranova capsized and spilled fuel oil in Bataan affecting nearby areas. The Cavite local government recently declared a state of calamity in several towns and imposed a no-catch zone for all shellfish in the province to prevent contamination and health risks. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Adrian Ayalin

Izzy Lee

Pia Gutierrez

Raya Capulong

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172257612939520240801-oil-spill-rosario-cavite-JC-4.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Children play on the beach in Rosario, Cavite on August 1, 2024, days after the MTKR Terranova capsized and spilled fuel oil in Bataan affecting nearby areas. The Cavite local government recently declared a state of calamity in several towns and imposed a no-catch zone for all shellfish in the province to prevent contamination and health risks. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="white-space:pre-wrap">Children play on the beach in Rosario, Cavite on August 1, 2024, days after the MTKR Terranova capsized and spilled fuel oil in Bataan affecting nearby areas. The Cavite local government recently declared a state of calamity in several towns and imposed a no-catch zone for all shellfish in the province to prevent contamination and health risks. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></span><span id="isPasted" style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br/></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday a class suit was being eyed in connection with the Bataan oil spill that has reached Cavite. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">He made the announcement following a meeting of the Oil Spill Inter-Agency Committee attended by Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, and other government officials.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Ang usapan namin, we&#x27;re looking into the angle of a class suit already, filed by the fishermen against the owners and others who may be responsible for this,” Secretary Remulla said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/1/oil-spill-cavite-shores-2128">• LOOK: MTKR Terranova&#x27;s oil creeps on Cavite shores</a><br/><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">He refused to divulge details, especially since the owners of the vessels that sank off the province of Bataan have yet to come forward.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Governor Remulla said the oil spill has impacted the livelihood of fishermen in Cavite with an estimated loss of P12 million a day. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/8/2/fish-samples-from-2-cavite-towns-tainted-with-petrochemicals-bfar-848">Fish samples from 2 Cavite towns &#x27;tainted&#x27; with petrochemicals: BFAR</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Nakakaawa sila eh, lahat na nauhuli nila ngayon amoy gasolina,” he said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/7/31/parts-of-cavite-under-state-of-calamity-due-to-oil-spill-1142">• Parts of Cavite under state of calamity due to oil spill</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Aside from criminal liability, the committee is also undertaking efforts for the provision of compensation to the oil spill victims.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“Kasama na yan kasi may insurer yan eh. May insurer yan,  gumagalaw na sila sa salvage operations pa lang, so meron na silang insurers, but we’re talking here, is not just the insurance angle but criminal liability that attaches to those responsible for this incident,” Secretary Remulla said.</span><br/><br/></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/7/30/tanza-cavite-oil-spill-2040">• IN PHOTOS: Cavite village reels from oil spill</a><br/><br/><br/></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)" id="isPasted"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>CLOSED FISH STALLS IN CAVITE </strong></span><br/><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In Noveleta, Cavite, fish vendor Mary Grace Borela has temporarily closed her market stall due to the significant decrease in customers after the oil spill. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Simula nung nagka-oil spill po, hindi na kami nagbukas gawa po ng lugi. Talo po sa gastos... Takot na po silang bumili ng isda... Talo sa pagod kaya ginawa ko nagpahinga na lang ako,&quot; Borelo said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Since the oil spill, we’ve stopped opening our stall because we’re losing money. People are scared to buy fish. It’s just not worth the effort, so I decided to take a break.)</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Other vendors are also struggling, selling their fish at a loss. They are sourcing from fish ponds to ensure the fish is safe to eat, but still, no one is buying.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Meanwhile, boats in Long Beach, Noveleta, remain docked as fishermen are unable to go out to sea because the coastal towns and cities in the province were declared no-catch zones on Wednesday.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fisherman Michael Capotle said he had to rely on loans to support his family. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;&#x27;Yung kaibigan ko dun lang ako minsan humihiram ng panggastos ng pasukan ng anak ko... Hindi ko po maisip paano mabayaran kasi ‘di po ako nakakapalaot... Pinag-iisipan ko kung puwede ako sa construction mahirap din kasi... Wala pa pong bakante,&quot; he said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(I borrow money from my friend to cover my child’s school expenses. I don’t know how I’ll pay it back since I can’t fish. I’m considering construction work, but there are no openings yet.)</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Cavite provincial government distributed rice to over a thousand fishermen in Noveleta on Friday, with more aid planned in the coming weeks. </span><br/><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br/><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Department of Agriculture said it would provide a P3,000 fuel assistance each to Filipino fishermen affected by the recent oil spill. </span><br/><br/><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The agency is also coordinating with the DSWD for the provision of cash aid from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation.    </span><br/><br/><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Philippine Coast Guard and the local government also conducted a cleanup drive at Long Beach.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Maraming mga basura, water lilies na inanod po dito sa aming pampang. Nakita namin na nababalot talaga ng langis ‘yung ating basura... May area dito po sa aming lugar na maitim na na tila yata talagang inabot na ng oil spill,&quot; said Noveleta Mayor Dino Chua.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(We found lots of trash and water lilies washed ashore, all coated in oil. There’s an area here that’s turned black from the spill.)</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)" id="isPasted"></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>OIL IN WATER </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">   </span></div><div><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The environment department reported that oil and grease found in water samples reached 7 milligrams per liter in Navotas and 3 milligrams per liter in Cavite’s southern border. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">This is above the 2 mg per liter limit for water to be considered safe, said Environment Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;The PCG and the DOST are working on yung tinatawag natin na fingerprinting para masabi natin na the actual source of the oil contamination in these particular areas na may exceedance ay galing po doon sa [tanker na MV] Terra Nova,&quot; he said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;These areas I mentioned maaaring may naka-dock rin na barko or ibang mga vessel di ba possibly that could be also sources,&quot; the official added. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">But the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said fish from Metro Manila remained safe to eat.   </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;For the NCR naman po nakapag-conduct na ng assessment sensory testing at so far naman po lahat ng bayan sa Manila so yun pong Navotas, Las Pinas, saka po Paranaque,&quot; BFAR’s Tina Lintag said. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;As precautionary measures pinatigil po muna yung pagharvest nung mga isda sa mga areas na may nakitang oil spill para maiwasan ang food poisoning pero nag-collect na din ng sample, ang sample po ang processing ay 2 weeks po,&quot; she added. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The health department said it was verifying reported cases of coughs, skin diseases, and nausea due to the oil spill.  </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The agency reminded the public to avoid wading in waters near the oil spill. </span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday a class suit was being eyed in connection with the Bataan oil spill that has reached Cavite.</p>

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday a class suit was being eyed in connection with the Bataan oil spill that has reached Cavite.

DOJ: Class suit eyed over Bataan oil spill

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DOJ: Class suit eyed over Bataan oil spill

Adrian Ayalin,

Izzy Lee,

Pia Gutierrez,

Raya Capulong,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 02, 2024 01:40 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 02, 2024 05:28 PM PHT

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