The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, February 14, recommended the filing of criminal charges against the parties responsible for the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro last year.

It can be recalled that on February 28, 2023, M/T Princess Empress which carried 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil submerged off the coastal waters of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, immensely affecting fishermen and families.

In a press release posted on its official Facebook page, the DOJ announced that it recommended criminal raps against the parties below:

• Corporate officers and certain employees of RDC Reield Marines Services, Inc. — the shipping company that owns and operates M/T Princess Empress
• 19 Philippine Coast Guard personnel
• Two Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) personnel

M/T Princess Empress corporate officers, a MARINA personnel, and a private individual who reportedly submitted fake construction and certificate of public convenience would be facing:

• Multiple counts of falsification of public documents by a private individual
• Multiple uses of falsified documents
• Multiple counts of falsification of public or official documents