Charges eyed vs owner of unregistered ill-fated boat

THE authorities are set to file criminal charges against the owner and skipper of the boat that sank off Tawi-Tawi on Wednesday killing seven people, including three children.

Lieutenant Commander Elizer Dalnay, South-Western Mindanao Coastguard District spokesman, said that Bakki Munib, 48, is liable under the law since his vessel is unregistered.

M/L Siraina, a wooden-hulled passenger-cargo vessel, sank off the village of Bakong, Simunul municipality, Tawi-Tawi around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

It was steaming to Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi coming from Sitangkai town, when it was battered by big waves and strong winds.

Dalnay said that Bongao Coastguard Station Commander Laberny Ikan has already coordinated with the police for the filing of charges against Munib for operating unregistered boat and illegal carriage of passengers.

Ikan said that M/L Siraina has been operating as a passenger-cargo vessel plying the route of Bongao-Sitangkai and vice-versa.

Munib is among the 15 survivors.

The other survivors were identified as Ayob Abdulhadi, 35; Benhar Abdulmanan, 21; Rizal Abdulmanan, 21; Baniza Adjung, 9 months old; Imam Muallan Adjung, 60; Malin Adjung, 40; Dading Jani, 39; Julsani Julkipli, 15; Aldin Munib, 14; Alvin Munib, 20; Arnel Munib, 17; Dasri Badday, 17; Sharifa Barahim, 17; and, Nurjiya Isdali, 17.

Five of the seven fatalities were identified as Tita Uyo, 1; Ping Uyo, 4; Albuya Uyo, 40; Ridjiki Jam Basira, 54; and, a certain Tutu, 4.

The two others who remained unidentified are both female and were believed to be around 30 years old, according to Dalnay.

Meanwhile, he said the search and rescue operations continue since five of the 27 people aboard the ill-fated vessel remained missing.

One of the five missing is identified as Alnaliza Hamsiri Sahidjuan, Dalnay said. (Bong Garcia)