Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday ordered the relief of six Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority officials following the sinking of three motor bancas in the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait in which 31 persons were killed over the weekend.
Tugade ordered their relief to pave the way for an impartial probe into the tragedy.
“I want them immediately relieved from their posts so we can give way to a more thorough and impartial investigation. If they are found negligent, we will make sure that necessary criminal charges will be filed against them,” Tugade said during a visit to Iloilo and Guimaras to inspect various sea transport facilities and visit families of the 31 victims of the sea tragedy.
Relieved were Coast Guard station commanders Perlita Cinco in Iloilo and Joe Luviz Mercurio in Guimaras and their officers, Chief Petty Officer Felixberto Salibio Jr. and Seaman First Class 1 Ricky John Mijares, and Marina Regional Office 6 Director Rizal J. Victoria and Marina Regional Office 6 Franchising Section head Juliet S. Nacion.
PCG spokesperson Capt. Armando Balilo said Cinco was replaced by Capt. Erlin Benliro while Mercurio was replaced by Jose Jacinto.
Marina said Victoria will be replaced by Jose Venancio A. Vero Jr., director of the Marina Central Office-Maritime Safety Service. Vero’s responsibilities will be assigned to Bernardo A. Pollo, division chief of the MCO-MSS.
Nacion’s replacement is awaiting internal decision at the Marina Regional Office 6.
Tugade pledged to help provide employment to qualified family members of the victims with the Marina, PCG, and the Philippine Ports Authority.
“Tutulong tayo na mabigyan ng trabaho sa PPA, Marina, at Coast Guard ang mga miyembro ng pamilya ng mga biktima. Maliit na tulong lamang ho ito, ngunit nais ho naming maramdaman nila na narito ang gobyerno para sa kanila,” Tugade said.
He also ordered Marina to rush the release of permits of Roll-on/Roll-off and fastcraft vessels meant to replace the wooden-hull bancas suspended from the Iloilo-Guimaras route. “I-release agad ang mga permits para hindi mahirapan ang mga pasahero na maghanap ng kanilang masasakyan,” Tugade said.
He said the tragedy in the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait calls for the modernization of all passenger sea transport vessels.
“Itong nangyaring ito ay isang wakeup call na kailangan na nating i-modernize ang ating mga bangka. Ang modernisasyon ay hindi lamang po para sa mga sasakyan sa kalsada. Kasama diyan ang ating mga sasakyang pandagat, lalung-lalo na ang ating mga bangka,” Tugade said.
