The Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to file a writ of kalikasan against those who are responsible for the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.
In an ambush interview with the media, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla said they are mulling filing cases against government agencies, private groups, or individuals who failed to take necessary actions.
"You have to look at the regulatory bodies that are involved, and to make sure that they are doing their job because sometimes, failure of governance is contributory to the accident or to the incident that happened," he explained.
The DOJ chief said that they gave these parties a deadline to act in the next 10 days, otherwise, they will resort to filing of a writ of kalikasan.
"Tamaan na ang dapat tamaan kasi we've said this when we started that this is a crime. The sea is now the scene of the crime, we know that. We have to work within that premise that the crime was committed and we have to correct the effects of the crime," Remulla noted.
He also said the oil spill inter-agency committee gave Shipowners’ Protection and Indemnity Club (P&I), the insurance firm of the submerged M/V Princess Empress, a 10 days ultimatum to respond to the incident.
The writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy that protects a natural or juridical person's right to a balanced and healthful ecology, according to the Supreme Court.
The oil tanker MT Princess Empress which carried 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil submerged due to engine overheating last February 28.
