MARINA Executive Fired Over Role in Oil Spill Incident

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has dismissed a key official from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) following his involvement in the registration missteps that preceded the sinking of the MTKR Princess Empress, which caused a significant oil spill in Oriental Mindoro last year.

According to Philippines News Agency, letter from DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista to MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan, MARINA Region 5 Director Jaime Bea was found responsible for “grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service” due to his actions related to the vessel’s registration. Bautista emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “We have had sinkings before, but no one has been held to account. This time all parties, whether private or public, will be held accountable. There will be no exception.” He instructed that Bea’s dismissal be enforced immediately to uphold the rule of law and best practices within the department.

Bea’s specific infractions included improperly signing and approving the Certificate of Ownership/Certificate of Philippine Registry for the MTKR Princess Empress, bypassing established protocols. Furthermore, he allowed procedural integrity lapses in the Domestic Shipping Section, directly contributing to the mishandling of official documents. These oversights not only led to the catastrophic sinking on February 28, 2023, but also precipitated an environmental crisis affecting multiple provinces including Antique, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan.

The resulting oil spill from the sunken oil tanker has inflicted environmental damage estimated to cost PHP7 billion, a figure reported by the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute. The incident highlights critical vulnerabilities within MARINA’s operational procedures and has significantly tarnished the agency’s reputation.