Those found negligent will be held accountable

BALER, Aurora – President Arroyo vowed yesterday that heads will roll in connection with the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars, which claimed nearly 800 lives.

“We demand full accounting. We will hold accountable all those found to have been negligent and caused the deaths of so many of our countrymen,” she said during ceremonies here marking the 6th Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day at the Quezon Memorial Park.

The President flew here a few hours after arriving from a 10-day working visit to the United States.

She is being criticized for refusing to cut short her US trip despite the ferry disaster and the onslaught of typhoon “Frank.”

The 24,000-ton Princess of the Stars overturned and sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon at the height of typhoon Frank last June 21.

The President will visit  Cebu tomorrow to condole with the families of the victims of the ferry sinking. Many of the passengers were from Cebu.

She thanked the Spanish government for extending assistance to the Philippines.

She said the government will improve its disaster       preparedness by installing new Doppler radars or weather forecasting instruments in Surigao del Sur, South Cotabato, Mactan, Tagaytay, Zambales, Cagayan, Catanduanes and Eastern Samar.

Straight to work

The President arrived on a commercial flight at the new Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at 2:30 a.m. She made a quick check of the terminal’s security procedures before heading for the nearby Villamor Airbase to send off a C-130 plane carrying relief goods to Iloilo.

The aircraft was carrying 1,440 bottles of drinking water, disinfectants, five jars of chlorine granules, 10 bags of lime and 200 cadaver bags.

National Disaster Coordinating Council executive officer Glen Rabonza pegged the typhoon damage at around P7.5 billion.

He said typhoon casualties, excluding victims of the ferry tragedy, reached 540 with 41 still missing.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, chairman of the NDCC, told the President that the limited number of aircraft was hampering delivery of relief goods to Panay.

Teodoro said that with few working C-130 cargo planes, the use of roll-on roll-off ships is “the best option now because of our limited air resources.”

Despite the limitations, Rabonza said that the C-130 planes have completed 10 sorties since Sunday and have moved a total of 151 tons of water purifiers, food and non-food items.

The President also cited the assistance to typhoon victims extended by the Filipino community in the US.

In Iloilo, local officials reportedly sprang into action on news of President Arroyo’s impending visit.

“When we need them (officials), they’re not around and all of a sudden, they’ve become very visible distributing relief goods,” an Antique farmer said. Religious and civic groups shared his observation.

Office of Civil Defense Iloilo officer John Jayme said damage to agriculture and infrastructure is estimated at P1.8 billion, with 54 towns still with no electricity.

Divers commended

The Philippine National Police (PNP) commended 18 police-divers for taking part in the search for and retrieval of the victims of the sunken Princess of the Stars.

PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. visited the 18 police-divers now confined at the AFP Medical Center to personally award them PNP Efficiency Medals.

“The PNP Efficiency Medals were awarded to these policemen for their eminently meritorious and invaluable service rendered as members of the PNP Dive Team of the PNP Maritime Group’s Special Reaction Unit that conducted the search, rescue, and retrieval operations at the sunken ship,” Razon said.

The police-divers were taken to the hospital for examination for possible endosulfan contamination.

“Imbued with high sense of responsibility, professionalism, competence and efficiency in the performance of their duties, they went underwater and risked their lives in search of the victims inside the sunken ship,” said Razon.

The 18 were Superintendent Ben Gabion, Chief Inspector Rhoderick Maniego, Senior Inspector Romeldo Flores, SPO2 Luisito Balatico, SPO1 Jesus Miralles, PO2 Marlon Rebenito, PO2 Joseph Urbina, PO1 Filadelfo Pascua, PO1 Edison Manuel, PO1 Eurem Jay Macasil, PO1 Jefferson Libuen, PO1 Ferdinand Domingo, PO1 Eliseo Celiz, PO1 Charlito Banal Jr., PO1 Frances Frogosa, PO1 Joel Guarino, Po1 Eduardo Leona, and PO1 Elvnick Camarao.

Cancellation of license sought

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, chairman of the Senate committee on public services, said yesterday he would recommend the revocation of the license of Sulpicio Lines issued by the Maritime Industry Authority.

“They do not deserve to continue in business,” he said.

Sen. Manuel Roxas II said MARINA should have required Sulpicio Lines to get more comprehensive insurance coverage. — With Jaime Laude, Marvin Sy, Aurea Calica, Cecille Suerte Felipe and Marvin Sy