Investigation into Oil Spill in Bien-Unido Seas

Capitol officials of the Philippines have ordered an investigation into the reported oil spill allegedly perpetrated by a passing marine vessel, apparently to prevent marine wildlife from being affected. Last week, the Office of Gov. Edgar Chatto, through provincial administrator Alfonso Damalerio III, ordered the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) "to conduct an investigation and inquiry on the matter in coordination with concerned municipal officials." 

In a letter from Mayor Nino Rey Boniel, who endorsed the police findings on the oil spill, the office has requested "any appropriate assistance" on the reported oil discharge. BEMO has directed men to go to the scene of the oil spill, somewhere off Bilangbilangan Daku, an island-barangay of the town. In his report to the mayor, local police chief inspector Felicito Injog Garcia said that the incident took place off said island on 6^th January 2012 at around 7PM, "more or less upon which panic broke out among the islanders there."

 

The initial probe, police said, showed that M/V Elizabeth, with combined white, red and blue colours, allegedly "did then and there deliberately dump/splash its waste and used oil into the sea." At high tide, the spill reached the shoreline of the island. The spilled oil was mixed with the waste garbage when it was discharged by said vessel.

 

According to Garcia, he considered the incident quite manageable and said that the oil spill is no longer a threat to marine life or the islanders. He stressed that there is still a need to investigate the incident further and gather evidence to bring the people responsible to justice.