Board of Marine Inquiry summons SuperFerry crew

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Marine Inquiry started sending out summons yesterday to people who would be called to shed light on the sinking of the M/V SuperFerry 9 last weekend in which 10 people died.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) already sent out summons for the ship’s captain Jose Yap, chief mate, second mate, third mate and duty able-bodied seamen to appear before the BMI on Sept. 14 and 15.

At the same time, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said it was high time Congress passed legislation for the establishment of a national transport safety body, in light of the continuing sea mishaps in the country.

BMI chairman and PCG vice commandant for administration Rear Admiral Alejandro Flora met with the seven other members of the board in an organization meeting where they discussed the dates of the hearings.

They have been given 30 days to complete their investigation.

Flora voiced optimism that they would have an easier time in probing the SuperFerry 9 sinking because there are less complications.

Based on the documents they’ve received, it seemed that there were no hazardous cargo loaded on board the vessel. The ship is owned and operated by Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSC).

The preliminary hearing is set on Sept. 11 where the board will focus on the presented documents and the possible witnesses who would be called to testify.

The BMI has also set aside two days to summon the chief engineer, second engineer, third engineer, fourth engineer, duty engineer and duty motorman.

On Sept. 18 and 19, they will invite the designated person ashore (DPA), port captain, technical superintendent, safety officer, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) surveyor, and Jerome Manuel Services.

During the second week, the BMI will talk to Marina Maritime Safety Office director Jose Venanero Vero and officer-in-charge Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Division engineer Daniel Reyes, PCG personnel.

The board members will then head to Iloilo and General Santos to get the statements of the survivors on Sept. 22 to 25.

After this, the board will start with the deliberation and finalization of the report for four days.

BMI member Commander Ramon Reblora said that the BMI’s functions would only be limited to determining the administrative liabilities of ATSC and the ship’s officers and crew.

“The BMI jurisdiction is very limited – to determine the administrative liabilities. We stick to suspension or revocation of license,” he said.

If, in the course of the investigation, it turned out that PCG personnel were somehow responsible for the incident, then the BMI will recommend that another entity conduct a criminal or administrative investigation, Reblora said.

Marina, PCG probe ineffective tool

Mendoza, in an interview with The STAR, admitted that they saw the current system where Marina and PCG undertake probes on sea tragedies to pinpoint responsibility as an ineffective tool to prevent sea tragedies.

“What happens now is that the investigation is being conducted by those who should be investigated,” Mendoza said, pointing out that Marina and PCG officials are also liable for their failure to prevent sea accidents.

He underscored the formation of a National Transport Safety Board as the real answer to the problem of sea accidents.

With a National Transport Safety Board, Mendoza said that an independent agency would be able to conduct a thorough and exhaustive probe that will punish all those responsible for a sea mishap.

Malacañang, for its part, said yesterday it would support bills in Congress that would call for reforms and liberalization of the country’s inter-island shipping industry to help prevent accidents in the future.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Palace is not backing any measure in particular but is leaving the matter to lawmakers.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard retrieved yesterday a woman’s body in a life jacket, and said she was among 10 people killed after the ferry sank last Sunday.

Although all 968 travelers and crew on the manifest were now accounted for, two Coast Guard ships will remain near where the ferry went down off Zamboanga del Norte province in case unlisted passengers were aboard, coast guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said.

Australia warns against travel on ferries in RP

Australia, meanwhile, warned its citizens against traveling on inter-island ferries in the Philippines, saying sea travel in the Philippines was “hazardous,”” an advisory posted on a government website said yesterday.

Tamayo said the advisory was unfair, adding sea travel in the country remains safe.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro yesterday commended the Navy for their prompt response that saved many of the passengers of SuperFerry 9.

In a phone interview from Washington, Teodoro said he is very proud of the speedy response of the Naval Forces Western Command and the Western Mindanao Command that led to the rescue of hundreds of passengers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has set up an inquiry desk at the SuperFerry office in South Harbor, Manila to assist the victims of the ill-fated ship.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral explained that the role of the DSWD is to facilitate the access to social services and compensation being provided to the victims and families by the ATSC. Aside from financial support, Cabral said her agency will also conduct critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) for the survivors when needed.

Meanwhile, Marina Franchising Division director Maria Concepcion Arbolario said ATSC should stop selling tickets to passengers since their ships have been grounded.

She said she has received reports that ATSC continues to sell tickets despite the order but admitted they could not slap any sanctions because they are just selling and not “operating.” – With Rainier Allan Ronda, James Mananghaya, Helen Flores, AFP, Paolo Romero, Pia Lee-Brago