Cops confirm retrieved drums contain sulfur, gear oil

MANILA, Philippines – The provincial police of Romblon confirmed on Monday that the two drums fished out of Sibuyan Island waters contained gear oil and sulfur, a radio report said. Police officials from San Fernando town said they were able to confirm the contents of the two drums after the fisherman who retrieved the containers on Sunday finally agreed to turn them over to Coast Guard officials. The fisherman, identified as Jaime Runes of Barangay (village) Agtiwa in San Fernando, initially demanded “compensation" in exchange for the drums, adding he would rather sell them than give it to government officials. The two drums were believed to have come from the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, which capsized off Sibuyan Island three weeks ago. The upturned passenger ferry was reported to be carrying several cargoes of chemicals including a toxic pesticide called endosulfan. Chief Inspector Reynaldo Reyes, San Fernando police chief, personally inspected the two drums and said that one of them contained gear oil, a sulfur-smelling substance used to reduce friction and wear in metal surfaces of machines. The second drum, a blue one, contained 29 kilograms of sulfur, Reyes added. Sulfur, which appears yellow in color, is widely used in making fertilizers and gun powders. The two drums are currently being stored by authorities in Barangay Agtiwa, pending laboratory tests. San Fernando Mayor Nanette Tansingco said further inspection of the waters off the town’s coast should be undertaken to ensure that no toxic chemical contamination happened. In the same radio report, Tansingco also suggested that a National Pesticide Analytical Laboratory be set up in the town to expedite laboratory testing of the chemicals - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV