The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is eyeing to wrap up its investigation and file prices towards people concerned within the capsizing of a passenger ferry in Binangonan, Rizal subsequent week.
“Nagsisimula po iyong investigation na ginagawa ng Philippine Coast Guard kasama po ng Philippine National Police doon sa naturang insidente. Ang pinaka-goal po ay makapag-file na po ng kaso against doon sa captain saka doon sa crew,” PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo mentioned throughout the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
Asked when the investigation might be accomplished and the fees might be filed, Balilo mentioned, “Baka earliest niyan, Monday eh, kasi dapat mayroong period within which to file a case kasi naka-detain iyong captain.”
At 1 p.m. on Thursday, the MB Princess Aya capsized in Laguna Lake close to Binangonan.
The PCG official mentioned the demise toll from the incident was 27, whereas 40 survived.
“On the search and rescue, hindi pa ho kami nagtanggal ng mga tao baka, alam ninyo na, mayroon pang makita o kaya may ma-retrieve pa. Nag-iwan pa rin po kami ng tao at hindi pa rin namin inaalis iyong possibility na baka mayroon pang na-trap doon sa ilalim,” Balilo mentioned.
The captain of the boat is now within the custody of authorities, in accordance with Darlene Cay’s report on Unang Balita on Friday.
The captain maintained that he was not conscious that the boat was overloaded.
“Iyong captain naman kasi obviously in-admit niya naman iyong mga pagkakamali; nag-submit ng manifest pero pagkatapos noon nagpasakay pa, tapos in-admit din na hindi sila nagpapa-life vest. So, titingnan natin,” Balilo mentioned.
The PCG official mentioned the fees to be filed would rely on the outcomes of the investigation.
“Normally, kapag may aksidente sa kalsada, reckless imprudence resulting to homicide… Hindi ko masabi kung iyan ang magiging kaso sapagkat mayroong team ng lawyers na mag-aaral kung ano ang ikakaso sa kanila,” Balilo mentioned.
Initial investigation confirmed the boat left the Port of Binangonan on Thursday and was en path to Talim Island when it was hit by robust winds 45 meters from land.
The robust winds allegedly panicked the passengers who then moved to the left facet of the vessel inflicting the vessel to tilt and capsize, the Philippine Coast Guard mentioned.
The M/B Princess Aya was allowed to sail because the storm indicators resulting from Typhoon Egay had been lifted.
Intensify inspections
Balilo mentioned the PCG would intensify its inspections of passenger ferries following the incident.
“Ang thrust po ng Philippine Coast Guard ngayon ay, base na rin po sa directive ng Presidente, itong darating na bagyo ay maging mahigpit tayo doon sa pag-inspect noong mga inter-island ferries at para maiwasan po iyong mga ganitong klase ng aksidente,” he mentioned.
He added that the PCG already relieved the officers assigned to the Binangonan substation.
“And of course sa amin naman, on our part, we relieved already our station commander there and nasa headquarters na po sila, also undergoing investigation. So far iyon pa lang po naman at alam ko updated kayo doon sa nangyayari,” Balilo mentioned.
The PCG official reiterated that its personnel had been on standby to dive and scour the realm ought to there be unaccounted passengers. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
