Updated: There’s a law on it: “An Act to Control Toxic Substances”…Breaking News: Sulpicio Lines told Del Monte only on June 25: Oh, your poison (10 tons) sank in the waters, we loaded it with the passengers

        (Photo by Woody Woodworth. Oro de Mexico. Used here for  educational, non-   commercial purposes, thru free service by blog-use of image provided by and from www.allposters.com )

xxxxxx

 

  My UPDATE (in itals).:  As an additional service, so you won’t have to rely on Wikipedia, like the banner story of one major on-line news site of a giant television network, in one of its paragraphs (in the college and maybe even in the University, students who use Wikipedia as a source for their papers are threatened either with a 5.0 or expulsion), i looked up environmental laws, since Sulpicio Lines allegedly transported highly toxic substances with the passengers.

       There’s a law on it, Republic Act 6969 or An Act to Control Toxic Substances, etc. Aside from considering maritime rules, the Revised Penal Code, the Civil Code, to determine responsibility and liability;  environmental laws can also be looked into.  (for laws, you can use reliable sites for law like: www.supremecourt.gov.ph or www.congress.gov.ph , or www.lawphil.net )

     That law defines hazardous substances as those which present “acute toxicity by ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption”. Or those that present  “long-term environmental hazards including chronic toxicity xxx carcinogenicity xxx resistance to biodegration, the potential to pollute underground or surface waters”. 

     The law requires any person in custody of such toxic substances, such as reportedly Sulpicio Lines, to render reports, notices, or other information, to allow access to records, and permit  inspection of the area where the toxic substance is stored.

     Violation thereof is punishable with prision correccional  or six months and one day to six years jail or fine. If a corporation, the corporation president, director, manager, together with the employees, who allowed the acts, in case of violation, shall be directly liable.

 

     The following are some pertinent provisions:

RA 6969. An Act to Control Toxic Substances, etc.   

       Quote “Section 5. g.  Hazardous substances are substances which present either: 1.  short-term acute hazards, such as acute toxicity by ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption, corrosivity or other skin or eye contact hazard or the risk of fire or explosion; or

        Quote “2.  long-term environmental hazards, including chronic toxicity upon repeated exposure, carcinogenicity (which may in some cases result from acute exposure but with a long latent period), resistance to detoxification process such as biodegradation, the potential to pollute underground or surface waters, or aesthetically objectionable properties such as offensive odors.

XXXX

     Quote “ Section 13. Prohibited Acts. b.  Failure or refusal to submit reports, notices or other information, access to records as required by this Act, or permit inspection of establishment where chemicals are manufactured, processed, stored or otherwise held;

   XXXX

     Quote “Section 14. Criminal Offenses and Penalties. a. 1.  The penalty of imprisonment of six (6) months and one day to six (6) years and one day and a fine ranging from Six hundred pesos (P600.00) to Four thousand pesos (P4,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person who shall violate section 13(a) to (c) of this Act and shall not be covered by the Probation Law. If the offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be deported and barred from any subsequent entry into the Philippines after serving his or her sentence;

       Quote “2.  In case any violation of this Act is committed by a partnership, corporation, association or any juridical person, the partner, president, director or manager who shall consent to or shall knowingly tolerate such violation shall be directly liable and responsible for the act of the employees and shall be criminally liable as a co-principal. “ closed-quote.

XXXXX

     Posted two hours ago: Del Monte was following up with Sulpicio Lines last June 25  its shipment of ten metric tons of the pesticide, endusulfan, in its almost pure form, very lethal, which it asked Sulpicio Lines to transport; by bill of lading the poison was going to be carried by the cargo ship, MV Princess of Paradise.

 

     Sulpicio Lines told them: Oh, it sank with MV Princess of the Stars.

        This was contained in a letter by Sulpicio Lines to Del Monte June 25; Del Monte informed the  Fertilizer and Pesticides unit of the Department of Agriculture the next day (June 26, yesterday), this was relayed to DOTC,  and the executive director of the pesticides unit revealed these details  in an interview with ANC today.

     What was Sulpicio Lines thinking? “Don’t worry, we’ll just retrieve the ten tons of poison when the area is cleared of divers, the divers  might wonder what we’re pulling out of the sea….” “No, we’ll just declare it as lost and pay you…..” “Gravity.  It will probably sink at the bottom of the ocean at some point and no one will ever, ever know about it…..” “And that’s why we wrote you. It’s fortuitous. Sorry.”

     Sulpicio Lines, aside from violating maritime rules on safety, such as getting regular weather reports, violated several more rules by loading highly toxic substances with passengers.