Not one life jacket on capsized banca

CEBU, Philippines - The motorized banca that capsized at the Hilutungan channel last Friday did not have a single life jacket for its passengers, the Coast Guard said yesterday.

Commodore Rolando Punzalan, station commander the Coast Guard in Cebu, said they discovered the absence of life jackets during inspection of RD Express yesterday.

Punzalan said the owner of the banca was able to show a certificate of public registry, but failed to secure a certificate of public convenience and ship safety certificate. 

The Coast Guard, however, cannot impose sanctions because the power to penalize lies solely with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Punzalan explained.

“About naman sa sanction depende yan sa adjudication ng Marina (Maritime Industry and Authority). Kasi yung sa amin (Coast Guard), investigation by gathering information lang kami,” he said.

No one perished in the incident, as a fishing boat, the Anjohn, rescued the 70 passengers on board RD Express. The incident had detached the exhaust pipe off the vessel.

The RD Express, weighing 11.3 gross tons, was on its way to Cebu City from Kalibutan Island in Talibon, Bohol when it capsized in between the Hilutungan Island and Cordova town around 1:30 dawn last Friday.

The vessel is owned by Eduardo Lomod while Santos Lomod served as captain.  (FREEMAN)