Council wants charges filed over sea mishap

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has requested concerned authorities to really press charges against those found liable in the August 16 collision of two ships that left over a hundred dead and passengers still missing.

In a resolution authored by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, the council said that while many sea accidents have already occurred, no one got jailed.

Labella survived the sinking of MV Princess of the Orient of Sulpicio Lines on Sept. 8, 1998. He was afloat for 36 hours before rescuers found him.

That accident also killed six girls scouts, to whom six roads in Barangay Guba, Cebu City were named after, and Cebuano Court of Appeals justice German Lee.

Twenty-two days today, MV Thomas Aquinas of 2GO Shipping sank off the waters of Talisay City after colliding with Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp.’s (formerly Sulpicio Lines) MV Sulpicio Express Siete. 

Hundreds were rescued but 111 died while 26 remains missing after the accident, which resulted to an oil spill.

Labella’s resolution also asked that the practice of not holding into custody the ship captains of vessels involved in sea accidents be corrected.  He said if drivers get incarcerated in traffic accidents, sea captains are not even when there are casualties.

A Special Board of Marine Inquiry has wrapped up its investigation into the August 16 incident but is yet to reveal the results, which was promised last Friday.

Concerned, the city council likewise passed a resolution calling for an advanced vessel monitoring system to strengthen maritime safety in Cebu.

Authored by City Councilors Gerardo Carillo, Mary Ann Delos Santos and Hans Abella, the resolution urged the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy and other concerned maritime agencies to install a Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS).

The VTMIS would control and manage maritime traffic, monitor marine environment, enable coastal surveillance, and support rescue operations at sea.

The system is likened to the air traffic control and management in airports that plot paths for incoming and outgoing flights to prevent planes from colliding.

Through a motion by Carillo, the city council last August 28 requested the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to join members in an executive session on September 25 for it to present a momentary solution in the absence of a VTMIS.

PCG Cebu Station Commander Weniel Azcuna earlier said there are other equally advanced technologies that can guide sea vessels aside from the VTMIS.

“VTMIS is not the cause of the collision. It is one of the safety equipment that can enhance the safety of traffic. We have radars, GPS; these are all in place in the vessel. We at the coast guard also conduct readiness evaluation of vessels,” he had said.  (FREEMAN)