Thursday, June 26, 2008 Arroyo holds Sulpicio accountable for ferry tragedy
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is holding Sulpicio Lines, owner and operator of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Star that capsized off the coasts of Sibuyan Island in Romblon Province last Saturday, responsible for the incident.
This, as National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) spokesman Anthony Golez assured the commitment of Sulpicio Lines in ensuring that the victims of the tragedy and their families would get the corresponding assistance including benefits from their insurance company.
Arroyo, in addressing the joint United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (US-Asean) Business Council and US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, said the Philippine government is committed to help in possible oil spill containment and clean-up just as it is constrained in aiding victims of the ferry tragedy and Typhoon Frank in general.
"On our part, we will do everything possible to aid in the clean-up and bring comfort to the families of the victims. We are holding the ferry company accountable to ensure that we'll find out how this ferry tragedy could have occurred so we can take steps to make sure it won't happen again," she said.
The President had expressed sadness over the loss of life from the typhoon and the ferry tragedy, just as she claimed anger after learning of the ferry incident.
"I am also angry at what happened with the capsizing of the ferry, and demand a thorough investigation to find out exactly what happened, why it happened and (if it) could have been prevented," she said during a luncheon meeting with the Philippine media.
She added that while she does not want "assign any blame" on anyone pending the investigation, she is ensuring that those found to be liable for the incident would be punished.
"The investigation must reveal the facts, so I will not assign any blame at this point. But rest assured, we'll get to the bottom of this tragedy and hold people accountable if that is what the findings reveal," Arroyo said.
Golez, in a video conference talks with Arroyo last Wednesday, reported to the President that as the government's "point man" to Sulpicio Lines, he has been able to secure the commitment of the shipping firm in ensuring that the victims and their relatives would be properly taken care of.
He said among the commitments made by Sulpicio Lines is to transfer the relatives of the victims to Cebu where they would be housed and cared for until they have received news on the conditions of their loved ones if they have survived, or the body if they have perished.
Sulpicio Lines also committed to treat the victims' families more humanely and properly following complaints of shabby treatments from company officers.
Golez said the company likewise assured that the victims would get compensations due them, including benefits from their insurance firm.
Investigation
During Wednesday's investigation into the sea mishap, members of the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) grilled officials of Sulpico Lines for allegedly defying the guidelines concerning the movement of the ships during inclement weather.
Rear Admiral Ramon Liwag, head of the BMI, said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issued in 2007 new guidelines repealing the 1998 guidelines being cited by the Sulpicio owners.
These guidelines were disseminated to members of the Philippine Inter-island Shipping Association (Pisa), he said.
"Based on that circular, the ship captain is given the responsibility to whether leave port or not. On practices on commanding ships, the responsibility rest on the captain of the ship," Liwag said.
However, Sulpicio Lines vice president Edgar Go said they were not informed of the new circular.
Aside from Sulpicio officials, the BMI also slammed port captain, engineers and radio operators that were on duty during the tragic incident.
The BMI set the next hearing on Friday.
According to Liwag, they will call the representatives from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) for the authentication of certificates of the vessel and relieved Coast Guard commander for Manila Erwin Balagas.
According to him, Go and other Sulpicio officials are also invited to Friday's hearing.
Sanctions
Balagas was relieved from his post pending investigation into the incident.
"This is to give way to the investigation. There is an ongoing investigation by the Board of Marine Inquiry. Although no one is saying he has an offense, we are relieving him for the investigation," said Commodore Luis Tuason, district commander of the National Capital Region-Central Luzon.
MV Princess of the Star, which has a gross tonnage of more than 23,000 tons, departed the port of Manila last Friday night when public storm signal number 1 was in effect. Under the rules, all ships are prohibited to depart under public storm signal number 3.
The Coast Guard received an advice from weather officials about public storm signal number 3 hoisted over Romblon and Marinduque area about three hours after the ship departed.
A bishop, in a media interview in Manila, has demanded the immediate closure of Sulpicio Lines.
"Don't the owners of Sulpicio Lines have enough conscience of just closing down instead of risking hundreds of lives once more," said Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz.
Cruz said this is not the first but the fourth time that the shipping firm figured in a sea tragedy, which caused the death of thousands of innocent civilians.
The incidents involving Sulpicio Lines-owned vessels included the world's worst peace-time marine disaster, wherein the MV Doña Paz capsized off Mindoro Island in December 1987 killing 4,386 persons; the October 1988 sinking of MV Marilyn near Leyte killing 300; and the submersion of MV Princess of the Orient near Batangas in September 1998 killing almost 200.
Recovered bodies
Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy recovered 57 more bodies, believed to be part of the more than 800 passengers and crewmembers of the MV Princess of the Star, off the waters of Masbate Province.
Navy spokesman Edgar Arevalo said seven of the bodies were recovered near the shore of San Pascual town by one of the Navy ships taking part in the ongoing massive search and rescue and retrieval operations.
He said the 50 others were recovered about 17 nautical miles of Burias Island in Masbate by another Navy ship.
Earlier Wednesday, Arevalo reported the recovery of three bodies at Burias Island based on information provided by P3 Orion, a US surveillance aircraft.
"All in all there are 60 (bodies recovered)," said Arevalo.
He said the Navy needs cadaver bags and substances for the cadavers. "Their problem is on the cadaver bag. Coordination is being made for the availability of more or less 150 cadaver bags," he said.
"They need more cadaver bags more or less 150 and substances like formalin to arrest or minimize stench of the cadavers they are getting," he said.
Psychological briefing
Task Force Princess of the Star chairperson Elena Bautista said aside from the information center set up in San Fernando in Romblon where some of the relatives opt to stay to be nearer to site where the vessel sank, the relatives are also being provided psychological briefing and assistance to prepare and help them accept the fate of their loved ones especially if they have perished.
Bautista said the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Center for Mental Health are providing the psychosocial assistance. She said Sulpicio Lines would also extend the same assistance.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured the residents of San Fernando that despite the stench emanating from the ship, it has no direct effect on them, their health or even the divers that have direct contact with the body.
Duque also said the prolonged stay of the vessel, including the bodies possibly inside the ship, would not be harmful to the fishes and other marine creatures in the area.
He said the fishes in the area are safe to eat.
More foreign aids
In the US, President George W. Bush expressed his deep condolences to the families of those who perished in Typhoon Frank, including the ferry tragedy.
He vowed to extend all the help in the search and rescue operations of the victims of the tragedy.
"I express our deep condolences to those who suffered as a result of the typhoon. I know there are some families that are hurting. Some are wondering whether or not their loved ones will reappear. This is a time where America needs to step up, and we will. The American people care about the human suffering that is taking place," he said.
"We send our prayers. We want to help our friends in time of need, and we are happy to do it," Bush said.
The US government, through the US Agency for International Development (Usaid), has released an initial US$100,000 for the purchase of emergency relief supplies to help the typhoon victims.
The fund will be coursed through the US Embassy in Manila to be forwarded to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and other concerned agencies, to be used for the purchase of much needed supplies such as blankets, mosquito nets, and water containers to affected families.
"The Usaid is monitoring the situation, and stands prepared to provide additional assistance if needed," the agency said in a statement.
Aside from the US, Arroyo said other foreign leaders have already started to pledge aid.
She cited the offer of Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle to send the National Guard stationed in Hawaii to help in search and rescue operations, and the offer of Spain, which "has come forward and presented itself to help the country in its search and rescue efforts".
"You have to do the Needs Assessment systematically and apprise to the different countries, knowing their respective capabilities," she said stressing the need for the Philippines to inform international donors of specific requirements "to facilitate the immediate deployment of the respective country's pledge of aid".
President Arroyo has asked Philippine embassies in different countries to open an account for victims of the typhoon, which passed over the Philippines on June 20, 2008.
"Frank" left in its wake at least 291 dead, excluding the victims of the ferry tragedy.
Like Bush, German President Horst Köhler expressed his condolences to families of the victims of the typhoon in a letter sent to President Arroyo.
"I was shocked and grieved to learn of the many victims claimed by the typhoon and the tragic ferry incident caused by that storm off the Philippine coast. May I express to you, also on behalf of my fellow Germans, my heartfelt condolences. Our deep sympathy and our thoughts go out to the families of the victims at that difficult time," Köhler said.
The Japanese government has extended relief assistance to the victims of Typhoon Frank.
In a statement, the Japanese Embassy said they are sending supplies amounting to Y20 million or P8 million.
The assistance includes sleeping pads, generators, water tanks and plastic sheets.
The relief assistance will be delivered to Iloilo, which is the hardest hit by the storm.
"The Japanese government reiterates its commitment to assist the Philippine government's disaster management efforts," said the Japanese Embassy. (Sunnex)
