Doña Paz tragedy; Chevron clarifies: Caltex not owner of Vector

CEBU, Philippines - Manila-based Chevron Philippines Inc., has issued a statement correcting a news report that Caltex owned the M/T Vector, the ill-fated oil tanker that collided with Manila-bound passenger ship M/V Doña Paz on December 20, 1987 along Tablas Strait in Marinduque, resulting in the death of thousands of passengers.

Chevron clarified that Caltex “merely chartered M/T Vector and it neither own nor operate the vessel.” This clarification was issued in response to the report that Caltex “was the owner of Vector.”

Chevron said Caltex was only the shipper of 8,800 barrels of petroleum products that Vector was transporting to Masbate at the time when the vessel collided with Doña Paz. The passenger ship was carrying more than 3,000 passengers, exceeding capacity, in its voyage from Leyte to Manila.

News reports after the collision, particularly the one published on FFE magazine, stated that “Vector slammed into Doña Paz’s left side, destroying the ship’s engine and generator. The fuel it carried ignited and the fire caused the heaviest damage of all.”

The Freeman’s recent report also stated that “after a long and contentious inquiry (and legal battle)”—or 30 years after—investigators put the blame on Vector that resulted in the collision and the deaths of thousands.

Chevron’s statement said: “Caltex was also absolved of liabilities by the Philippine Supreme Court in a related case, since Caltex merely chartered one of the vessels (Vector) and did not operate it.”

However, Caltex was ordered by the Louisiana Court in the United States to “compensate valid claims arising from the Doña Paz incident,” said Chevron, through a press release sent to The Freeman.

It added that the Louisiana Court subsequently approved a settlement agreement ordering Caltex “to provide claimants with closure to long-pending cases in the Philippines and the state of Louisiana.” What followed was Caltex’s release of financial claims to the victims of the sea tragedy.

A total of 3,251 victims’ relatives and survivors of the Doña Paz tragedy were paid, through banks (Metrobank and RCBC) in Tacloban City earlier this March, with claims amounting to between P200,000 and P400,000, as ordered by the Louisiana Court.

Passengers who were not listed in the ship’s manifest were also granted by the court to be paid similarly with the claims but with a lesser amount than those who were listed as bona fide passengers.

Tacloban-based lawyer Leo Giron, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Leyte Chapter, said his law office helped the heirs and survivors in court by assessing and preparing all pertinent papers that Caltex International needed for the release of the money to the claimants. (FREEMAN)