"Rape victim's" claim inconsistent: "There was no disco on ship"

CEBU, Philippines - The lawyer of FJP Shipping Lines, owner of M/V Calbayog where an alleged rape of a passenger took place, said that they have conducted their own investigation into the matter and noted inconsistencies in the allegations of the woman.

Lawyer Audie Arnado said that the management of the FJP conducted interviews with the staff of the ship and found out some important details.

He, however, assured of their company’s cooperation to the police investigation.

Other crew members and staff of the ship said that there was no disco in the vessel as claimed by the 23-year-old victim.

Also, the crew quarters where the alleged crime was consummated is beside the cabin of the Second Engineer, who reported no commotion or extra ordinary incident during the alleged commitment of the crime.

Arnado said that the canteen, where the alleged groping started, is located three levels or three decks from the crew quarters.

“There are over 100 people in the vessel when the alleged crime was committed and no report of such crime reached the ship captain or his officers,” Arnado said.

The company also learned that the alleged victim was assigned to an economy cot at the upper deck, which is one deck away from the canteen and one deck away from the crew quarters.

Arnado also corrected reports that the alleged crime happened in the passenger cabin.

The lawyer said that the victim who reported the incident to the Maritime Police was referring to the crew quarters, which is restricted to authorized personnel only, and not the passenger cabin.

“FJP is a law abiding company and stamps out any kind of breach of discipline in all its vessels. We shall fully cooperate with the proper authority in the conduct of the investigation of any crime allegedly committed by its crew,” FJP Lines’ official statement says.

“We express our sympathy for any victim of alleged crimes or violations and shall not tolerate of any, whether committed by the staff, crew or passenger,” the company assured.

Arnado said that the incident shall not give a bad impression to their passengers with regards security issues.

“FJP Lines assures the public of the safety and security of all the passengers plying through its vessel. And it shall exert all efforts to find out the real facts and to punish those who are guilty,” Arnado said.

FJP started its administrative investigation immediately after the incident was reported.

Today, they will continue interviewing all staff, officers and crew of the vessel to gather more facts.

“If it will be proven that there was a breach of discipline, they will be penalized accordingly. But of course, they are entitled to presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” the lawyer said.

Arnado assured that the company will not cover for the accused sailors.

Second Mate Timoteo Sampayan, 32, of Northern Samar and apprentices Aldren Albarando, 22, of Argao, Cebu; Layman Regañon, 24, of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte; and Alvin Nalda, 27, of San Miguel, Leyte, were arrested Saturday and detained at the Waterfront Police Station after the female passenger complained of rape.

Reports said that the victim was dancing in the ship’s disco when the suspects pulled her out and started groping her, then brought her to their quarters.

The victim reported the incident at 10:45 a.m.

The three apprentices were arrested at Pier 2 after the ship’s captain voluntarily surrendered them, Arnado said.

Arnado clarified that there was no hot pursuit because Sampayan was apprehended in Colon with an employee of the Shipping Company, who had already informed Sampayan of the complaint and told him that the company has ordered him to cooperate with the police.

The master of the ship is expected to file a Marine Protest before the Maritime Industry Authority today. MARINA-7 is also set to issue the suspension order to the accused group and a show cause order to the captain. — (FREEMAN)