The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended criminal charges against the owners of the ill-fated MT Princess Empress and several others over falsified documents, nearly a year after the tanker sank off Oriental Mindoro and caused a massive oil spill that polluted surrounding waters and left thousands without livelihood. The DOJ on Wednesday said a panel of state prosecutors had found that shipping company RDC Reield Marine Services Inc. submitted faked documents, including a construction certificate and affidavit of ownership, which allowed the tanker to sail despite noncompliance with regulations.

Bautista, J. (2024, February 15). DOJ endorses raps over Mindoro oil spill. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A5.