Findings on Solar 1 sinking out Friday; GMA vows no whitewash

ILOILO CITY — Experts will come out with their recommendations on what to do with the sunken tanker Solar I by tomorrow, the Coast Guard said yesterday.

"They’re still studying it (the underwater footage)," Coast Guard commander Vice Adm. Arthur Gosingan said yesterday. "The findings and the recommendations will be in by Friday at the earliest."

At Malacañang, President Arroyo vowed yesterday that there will be no whitewash in the investigation into the oil spill that devastated vast fishing grounds and marine reserves off Guimaras island.

"As we clean up the coast of Guimaras with all the intensity we can muster, we will make sure that there will be no whitewash in ferreting out the truth behind the accident," she told Guimaras local officials.

The President ordered Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to "ensure an airtight case" against those liable for the oil spill, which has damaged about 220 kilometers of coastline, 450 hectares of mangroves, 1,144 hectares of marine reserves and 116 hectares of seaweed plantations.

Mrs. Arroyo said the disaster has been effectively contained but the cleanup will be intensified with the help of volunteers, including students, from nearby provinces.

"It will take more than an oil slick to sink this island," she said on her third visit to Guimaras.

"Together we will wipe away this smudge to bring back the smile on the face of the people of Guimaras," the President said.

A decision will be made soon on what to do with the tanker and its remaining cargo, she added.

On Tuesday, justice officials recommended the filing of criminal charges for negligence against Norberto Aguro, the tanker skipper, and Clemente Cancio, president Sunshine Maritime Development Corp., the vessel’s owner, in the deaths of two of the 20 crewmen and the damage from the massive oil spill.

The owner of the spilled oil, Petron Corp., the country’s largest oil refiner, could face civil liability, Justice Undersecretary Ernesto Pineda said.

Gosingan said John Walker, the expert hired by Protection and Indemnity Club, the insurer of Solar I, told him that they need time to view the footage of the entire underwater survey conducted by the remote-operated vehicle Hakuyo 2000 last week.

"It’s a 12-hour tape, you know," he said. "So he (Walker) will have to study the entire tape."

Gosingan said the underwater survey was just the first phase, and that they have yet to come up with what to do with the ship.

"We will discuss the options once the findings and the recommendations have come in," he said. "We have to study thoroughly on what is to be done."

It is certain that there will be a salvage ship that would be deployed for Solar I, he added.

Gosingan said some 200,000 to 250,000 of the 2,000,000 liters on board Solar I have already seeped out in the past three weeks since the tanker sank on Aug. 11.

"There are globules coming out," he said.

Gosingan said the PCG has also consulted with a Norwegian salvaging firm on how to refloat sunken ships.

"That would give us an idea on how to support such an operation," he said.

Meanwhile, Gosingan said the PCG will continue to search for the two missing crew members of Solar I, although no bodies were found during the underwater survey.

"We are still looking for them," he said. "For as long as they are not yet located, we have to assume that they’re still alive."

Residents of a coastal barangay in Oton town in Iloilo turned over to the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council a small piece of yellow pad found inside a bottle which was washed ashore.

The letter writer claims that he was one of the survivors of Solar I, and that he is marooned on a remote island, and is asking for help.

In the meantime, Solar I, which lies off the southern coast of Guimaras, continues to leak oil into the sea.

‘Petron won’t shirk from responsibility’

In Bacolod City, Jose Campos, Petron vice president for marketing, said the company will not shirk from its "moral and social responsibility."

"We will be in Guimaras for as long as it takes, even if it takes five years or more to repair the damage done," he told reporters yesterday.

"It is regrettable that we have initially failed to clearly communicate our response efforts, but the oil spill continues to be a matter of serious concern for Petron," he said .

Petron has not been remiss in its moral and social responsibility towards Guimaras and other areas in Western Visayas affected by the oil spill, he added.

Campos denied allegations that Petron has passed on the blame and responsibility to Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. and insurer, Shipowner’s Mutual of Luxumbourg.

"It is not something that we can pass off to anyone else," Campos said.

"Petron remains serious and committed and they will be in Guimaras for as long as it takes. The good name that Petron has built up over the years has been affected. We have worked hard and we will continue to work even harder to resolve the situation."

On calls to boycott Petron products, Campos said this will not solve the problem. — Ronilo Pamonag, Antonieta Lopez, AP