Press Release
Dept. of Justice
September 01, 2006
Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez created a special task force to investigate the massive oil spill off Guimaras Island.
Members of the task force are three (3) DOJ undersecretaries , one assistant chief state prosecutor and an assistant director from the NBI namely, Undersecretary Ernesto L. Pineda, USEC. Macabangkit Lanto, USEC. Fidel Exconde, ACSP Richard Anthony Fadullon and NBI Asst. Dir. Alejandro R. Tenerife.
In Department Order # 631, the task force is also ordered to coordinate with other law enforcement agencies in the fact-finding investigation and directed to submit its report and recommendations within 30 days from receipt of the Order.
Atty. Eduardo Hernandez, former Pres. of the Phil. Bar Association and an expert on Maritime and Shipping Laws, has been tapped as consultant of the task force.
The move is in compliance with the order of the President directing the DOJ to lead an investigation to determine the liability of cargo owner Petron Corp. and the ship owner.
On August 11, 2006, Solar I, an oil tanker owned by Sunshine Maritime Dev. Corp., sank in high seas 24 kilometers south off Lusaran Point in Guimaras carrying some 500,000 galons of bunker oil. Congress took the initiative to conduct an inquiry over the incident. The Board of Marine Inquiry is expected to release in the next few days its initial findings on the country's worst environmental disaster.The estimated 350,000 liters of oil is believed to have damaged fertile fishing grounds, white sandy beaches and hundreds of kilometers shoreline in nearby provinces in Central Visayas.
As this developed, Justice Secretary Gonzalez also ordered the formation of a technical working group to assist the Independent Commission to address media and activist killings pursuant to an earlier administrative order issued by President Arroyo.
In Department Order # 635 signed by the Justice Secretary, the group is headed by Senior State Prosecutors Roberto Lao, Rosalina Aquino, Aileen Gutierrez, Joselita Mendoza, Christine Perolino and Niven C. Canlapan.
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