8 RP seamen get US reward
January 28, 2008 -- Got something to say?
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MANILA, Philippines Eight Filipino seamen who informed United States authorities about their ships illegal waste dumping in American waters have received $730,000 for the information.
The US embassy in Manila said the eight seamen, who requested that their names not be released to the media, received their rewards during a ceremony at the US embassy.
The embassy said the information the eight Filipino seamen gave helped the United States government prosecute the owners and officers of two ships that had illegally dumped sludge oil and contaminated waste water in US waters.
The US views pollution of the ocean as a crime against the citizens of all nations, and it has laws to prosecute those who pollute the environment as well as laws that reward persons who cooperate with authorities to arrest and prosecute the violators of those laws,” said US Ambassador Kristie Kenney.
The embassy said the cash rewards were authorized by the US District Courts in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Jacksonville, Florida under a US government program to reward persons who have helped in the prosecution of environmental law violations.
Embassy officials said the Filipino seamen reported to US authorities the discharge of pollutants from two merchant vessels in ocean waters off Puerto Rico and in Florida. The seamen testified on behalf of the US government at the grand jury proceedings and were prepared to testify at the trial if called.
They said that as a result of the seamens cooperation, the companies who owned the ships and the ships principal officers pleaded guilty.
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