Palace: Vessel to stay in Subic

Crewmen of the North Korean cargo vessel Jin Teng stand on the middle of the deck as it unloads its cargo while docked at Subic Bay, in Zambales province, northwest of Manila, Philippines, Friday, March 4, 2016. The Philippine coast guard inspected a North Korean cargo vessel that docked at a port northwest of Manila in one of the first such checks since the U.N. Security Council imposed further sanctions on Pyongyang over its nuclear program. AP FILE PHOTO

THE NORTH Korean ship MV Jin Teng will remain impounded in Subic Bay port in Zambales until authorities complete their investigation, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“It was decided that the Coast Guard will continue to hold the vessel until the investigation has been completed,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters.

“It was also agreed that the crew may be allowed to leave if justified by the results of the investigation,” he said.

Coloma said while an initial investigation had been conducted, the Coast Guard was still looking into the ship and its cargo “with respect to the full inquiry and investigation that the UN Security Council resolution requires.”

He said there was no deadline for the completion of the investigation.

“I am not aware of any time restriction imposed by the United Nations,” Coloma said.

He said the government was merely “complying” with the Security Council resolution that imposed sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program.

Coloma also said an interagency meeting had been held by representatives of the Coast Guard, the departments of justice, foreign affairs and transportation and the immigration bureau “to discuss further actions.” Nikko Dizon