Aboitiz official, observers have no voting power on SuperFerry case - Marina

MANILA, Philippines - The president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSC) sits in the board of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the agency’s deputy administrator for operations said yesterday.

However, retired Col. Primo Rivera said Endika Aboitiz and three other observers in the Marina board have no voting powers and only comment during meetings. 

Aboitiz assured him that he would inhibit himself from the hearings on the M/V SuperFerry 9 case, he added.

The two other observers are a Coast Guard representative and Carlos Salinas, who is from a manning organization, Rivera said.

The Marina is the government agency that would investigate whether Aboitiz Transport’s franchise should be canceled as a result of the sinking of SuperFerry 9.

Rivera said the Marina investigation on the ferry’s sinking would be impartial, and the presence of Aboitiz in the board would not have any effect on the hearings, findings and the agency’s recommendations.

“The Marina Board also had a special hearing last Wednesday at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Endika was not there, but his representative suggested that Endika would inhibit himself from the M/V SuperFerry 9 case,” he said.

However, Aboitiz would still be allowed to observe and give comments during deliberations of Marina policies, Rivera said.

The six Marina board members with voting powers are led by the transportation and communications secretary, the board’s chairman; and the Marina administrator, the vice chairman.

The four other members are from the Department of National Defense, Development Bank of the Philippines, Office of the President and the Department of Trade and Industry.

SuperFerry owners to face charges

The owners of SuperFerry 9 face charges for allegedly failing to provide ample assistance to victims of the ferry tragedy.

Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta said yesterday criminal, civil and administrative charges could be filed against Aboitiz Transport System.

“We are appealing to the owner of SuperFerry 9 not to make it harder for the victims to claim their necessary financial aid so this issue would no longer reach the court,” she said.

Acosta said several families of victims have already called their office to ask for help to sue ATSC for compensation.

The Public Attorney’s Office is ready to provide free legal services to the families if Aboitiz Transport fails to fulfill its responsibilities, she added.

Reports said Aboitiz Transport is ready to pay up to P200,000 to families of passengers who died in the accident and P50,000 to the survivors.

Navy honors last men to jump

Navy Seaman First Class Oliver Cogo and Petty Officer Anifer Bucao were the last people to jump off the sinking SuperFerry 9.

Before abandoning ship, the two sea marshals gave their life vests to terrified passengers to ensure that they would survive in the choppy waters of Zamboanga del Norte.

They jumped into the shark-infested waters after ensuring that no one was left on the ship.

Cogo and Bucao were awarded the Distinguished Navy Cross by Navy chief Vice Adm. Ferdinand Golez at Navy headquarters in Manila yesterday.

“They acted beyond the call of duty because they were up there as sea marshals and they acted as one of those persons on board… and they helped a great number of passengers, rescued them and without their efforts I’m sure there could possibly have been more casualties,” Golez said.

Survivor recalls nightmare

Alberto Solarte still shivers from the nightmare he and the rest of the survivors went through as he narrated how an initial swift sailing turned into a story of horror.

Sitting on his bed at the Doctor’s Hospital in Zamboanga City, the 51-year-old Solarte said when the ferry departed Davao City for General Santos City many passengers were partying at the ship’s restaurant.

“I never thought it would happen because it was the best boat I’ve seen and I thought it would not sink because everybody in the karaoke and restaurant seemed very happy,” he said.

Solarte, a resident of Marinduque, said the ferry left General Santos for Iloilo on Saturday night after picking up some passengers.

“Every passenger started to feel something was wrong with the ship as it started wobbling on both sides,” he said.

Solarte said off Zamboanga Peninsula, the passengers overheard that the ship’s quartermaster was ballasting, a process of shifting water to stabilize the ship.

“Suddenly we heard the container vans below the deck skidding towards the right side,” he said. “Then came the loud rumbling, we presumed still from the container vans.”

Solarte said the sudden shifting of the weight of the container vans might have caused the ship to careen on its starboard about 2 a.m. Sunday.

The SuperFerry 9’s crew fired flares into air as a distress signal, he added. –With Edu Punay, Roel Pareño, James Mananghaya, Perseus Echeminada