MORE NEWS, LA UNION

Delay in auction of Malaysian ship hit
By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – An official of the Department of Finance in Manila is being blamed for the delay in the auction of the M/TUG Sungai Julan 1, a Malaysian vessel involved in oil smuggling at the Poro Point seaport here in 2007.

Edward Baltazar, former head of the Port of San Fernando who ordered the seizure of the vessel, said his forfeiture order was affirmed by Secretary Margarito Teves but the implementation, which will pave the way for the auction, was allegedly delayed because the document remains at the office of the finance official.

"The forfeiture order has been twice affirmed by the (DOF) legal department and all process regarding the seizure has been done. It’s already for implementation," Baltazar said.

Records of the forfeiture decision have reportedly been transmitted to the finance official’s office last Sept. 1 but no action has been taken and is still pending as of this report.

On July 8, Baltazar’s lawyer filed a motion asking the official to inhibit from participating in the review of the forfeiture decision because the official was a former associate of the law firm representing the owner of the vessel.

The vessel, valued at about P110 million, was docked at the seaport here while the crew, seven Indonesians and five Malaysians, were already released.

Baltazar said the proceeds, if the vessel would be auctioned including its cargo of 77,058 liters of crude oil, would give additional revenue to the government.