MANILA, Philippines - Charges loom against the owner of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars for its failure to inform authorities that the ship was carrying a shipment of a powerful insecticide when it capsized over the weekend.
Deputy Presidential and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) spokesman Anthony Golez Jr also hinted at sanctions on agencies that failed to detect the chemicals aboard the ship.
"Kakasuhan namin ang management ng Sulpicio because they withheld that information (We will charge Sulpicio management because they withheld that information)," Golez said in an interview on dzBB radio.
However, he did not specify what charges the government plans to file against Sulpicio Lines.
Golez also said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is still on a 10-day visit to the United States, ordered the NDCC to make sure the contamination will not be spread.
He said President Arroyo also ordered the 40-foot container van containing the endosulfan be retrieved and isolated immediately.
Transportation Undersecretary Elena Bautista, head of a task force looking into the incident, said they learned of the pesticide only Thursday afternoon.
Bautista told a radio interview that Del Monte wrote the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) about the matter June 24, and the FPA wrote the DOTC only Thursday.
"We recommended to the President to convene the NDCC because of the urgency of the matter," she said.
She also said an initial check with the Coast Guard showed Sulpicio never sought any special permit to carry dangerous cargo.
In a separate interview, Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said they will check if Sulpicio applied for a special permit.
Tamayo said he has ordered the divers in the field to stop search operations.
"Dapat may special permit to carry dangerous cargo, dapat ang shipowner mag-apply for special permit (The ship owner should have applied for a special permit to carry dangerous cargo)," Tamayo said on dzBB.
He said the Board of Marine Inquiry looking into the mishap may ask Sulpicio's representatives some questions on the matter.
When asked whether the Coast Guard will have its divers withdraw from the site, he said they will take it up with Transportation Undersecretary Elena Bautista.
Bautista was due at the site within the day.
"Magkakaroon ng pagpulong para ano ang susunod na hakbang (We'll discuss possible actions to take during the meeting)," Tamayo said.
On the other hand, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported from Romblon that some of the Coast Guard divers had experienced skin irritation as of Thursday.
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