Marina probes whistle-blower

MANILA, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is investigating a ship classification society official who called attention to the alleged rampant graft and corruption in the agency.

Rene Viloria, president of the Filipino Vessels Classification System Association, Inc. (FVCSAI), said he is being investigated by the MARINA over his society’s rules in surveying and classing ships and the five last ship surveys conducted by his group.

The order was issued by MARINA administrator Emerson Lorenzo last Oct. 11, a move Viloria said caught him by surprise. He said he expected Lorenzo to look at “dubious” local ship class societies that do not employ even a single ship surveyor certified by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). He said these societies are allegedly being favored by MARINA officials.

Villoria, a former surveyor of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and whose FVCSAI employs three surveyors certified by international class society-members of the IACS, urged Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Manuel Roxas II to look into the rampant corruption at the MARINA during an open forum of the annual general membership meeting of the Makati Business Club last Oct. 6.

Villoria said the graft and corruption in the MARINA is to blame for the string of sea mishaps that took place during this administration.

“Marina engages shipowners in package deals on vessel inspection and approval of their certificates of convenience by engaging the services of their preferred class society,” Villoria said. “Consequently, the necessary inspection is not being done, yet a vessel still passes as seaworthy, thus the numerous incidents of vessel sinking.”

Roxas, hearing of Villoria’s revelation, endorsed his complaint to DOTC Undersecretary Rafael Santos.

“We will be very strict in ensuring that shortcuts or package deals have no room in DOTC. Without a whistle-blower saying “that I was the recipient of such an offer, it is very hard to prosecute. So we would ask your help for the needed information, so we can stop this practice,” Roxas said.

Since Roxas assumed office, at least four sea mishaps have occurred, including a passenger ship from Cebu with 178 onboard that sank off Iloilo in clear weather; a large foreign-flagged container ship that collided with a small bulk carrier off Sarangani, wherein 22 people were rescued and one person died; and a roll on-roll off vessel with 36 people on board that ran aground near Mindoro. All the 36 onboard were rescued.

The latest accident involved a fast craft headed for Cebu that ran aground off the city after its engine caught fire. All of the estimated 220 people on board were rescued although five required hospitalization.