Coast Guard foils oil smuggling try

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has foiled an attempt to bring into Manila a shipment of smuggled gas oil on Jan. 1.

Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral Damian Carlos said the MT Patricia was intercepted by operatives of PCG-Pasig station at around 9 a.m. after it was found to be carrying 600,000 liters of smuggled oil from Subic.

In a report, Carlos said PCG operatives discovered that the cargo had "anomalous documents." The PCG is now coordinating the disposition of the cargo with the Bureau of Customs.

The smuggled oil was supposed to be diverted to two foreign vessels docked at the South Harbor in Manila.

The Coast Guard was tapped by government in its anti-smuggling campaign because it has capability to monitor and control sea transportation in the country. — Edu Punay