Friday, August 25, 2006
Tanker's captain says, 'I am sorry'
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
BACOLOD CITY (Updated 5 p.m.) -- The ship captain of the sunken vessel, M/T Solar 1, said he was sorry of the incident, the sinking of the tanker that leads to the oil slick affecting three provinces in the Visayas, saying "it's God's will".
"I am sorry but please don't blame me. The tragedy was not my fault... it's God's will already," Norberto Aburo, ship captain of the sunken M/T Solar 1 said.
Aguro a native of Dau, Capiz was interviewed from Bataan by GMA 7's Saksi.
He said since the tanker had encountered heavy seas in the morning of August 10, he tried everything to maneuver the vessel just to place it on a safer position.
It was past nine in the morning then when they kept on hiding at Naso Point north of Panay.
But hours after, he said he continued to sail until 3 p.m. when they again encountered the same problem near Guimaras Island.
"I have no choice but to navigate the vessel going to harboring area in Guimaras also," he said.
An hour later, he said they again continued their voyage but 10 minutes after the vessel encountered big waves and listed on its starboard side until it capsized and totally submerged into the depths of the sea.
But before the vessel's total submersion, Aguro ordered his men to abandon ship. Of the 20 crewmembers, 18 survived.
These include Roy Jorolan, Victorino Beronia, Rouelito Yee, Niño Laput, Gerardo Pahimutang, Cirilo Vargas, Ricardo Monteclaro II, Romualdo Luistro, Jr., Eleazar Pingal, Herminio Rengel, Brian Alamar, Knowell Reblando, Rey Galleto, Jessie Angeling, Reynaldo Torio, Anthony Fallet and Raul Melaya.
Two others, Victor Morados and Art Ian Nabu, however, remain missing until press time Friday.
In a report from Maritime Authority (Marina) and Philippine Coast Guard in Western Visayas, it also showed that the ill-fated tanker had left the town of Limay in Bataan and was bound for Sangali, Zambongga del Sur on August 9.
It was supposed to deliver about 2 million of bunker fuel to Western Mindanao Power Corp.
But Marina and Coast Guard reports also indicated that at around 1 a.m. on the same day, Aguro already learned that the tanker was already having trouble.
The next day, it suffered some problems while traversing along the west side of Antique province.
But at around 9 a.m., Aguro ordered the crew to push through with their voyage but the ship listed six to 10 degrees a few hours after it sailed.
Its last position was recorded at the latitude of 10 degrees, 14.5 minutes north and longitude of 122 degrees 26 minutes east or at 16.6 miles southwest of Lusaran Point in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.
Because of it, PCG Western Visayas Commander Luis Tuason commented that Aguro should have not continued sailing.
Aguro, however, said, "It was purely an accident and no one has to be blamed."
As to the allegation that he has no expertise in manning an oil tanker because his experience was for chemical ship, Aguro said, "that's not true."
He said he knows his capability and his work, but that he was only a victim of circumstance.
On the other hand, he clarified that he's not hiding and he is ready to face any investigation.
But he is appealing to his fellow Ilonggos especially to Guimarasnons: "Please forgive me." (Sun.Star Bacolod/Sunnex)
(August 25, 2006 issue)
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