Investigation Sought: Mayor ‘interfered’ in vessel’s apprehension — Coast Guard

The Coast Guard has requested Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez to ask the Department of the Interior and Local Government to investigate the mayor of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro who allegedly interfered in the apprehension of an overloaded ferry last May 26.

In a memorandum dated May 29, Vice Admiral Reuben Lista, Coast Guard commandant, alleged that Mayor Aristeo Atienza interfered "in the implementation of maritime safety regula—tions...and (showed) disrespect to a law enforcer with the attendant manifestation of a threat against the life of FN2 (Arman) Domingo."

The STAR repeatedly tried to get in touch with Atienza to get his side but failed. The paper’s Mindoro correspondent, Joe Leuterio, also attempted to reach Francisco Atienza, the mayor’s brother in Calapan City, but was told that he was in Manila.

The incident arose when personnel of the Coast Guard detachment in Puerto Galera apprehended M/V Starlite Nautica last May 26 for carrying 142 excess passengers over its authorized capacity of 226.

The vessel, owned and operated by Starlite Ferry Inc., was moored at the Balatero pier and was bound for Batangas City.

Lista recounted in his memorandum that Domingo and PO3 Dioscoro Garcia, in their pre-departure inspection and headcount at 9:45 a.m., discovered that M/V Starlite Nautica was carrying 142 excess passengers.

Because of this, the two Coast Guard personnel, Lista said, held the vessel’s departure until all the excess passengers had disembarked.

They subsequently issued an inspection and apprehension report to the vessel’s master who was advised to order the required disembarkation, which he complied with. The vessel was allowed to depart at about 1:15 p.m., or a delay of more than three hours.

Lista, citing reports, said Atienza and his bodyguard were at the vessel’s gang plank during the inspection. Sensing that the vessel’s departure would be delayed, the mayor allegedly ordered Domingo to allow the ferry to depart.

The mayor was quoted as saying, "Ako ang bahala sa yo (I’ll take care of you)." Domingo, however, "denied the request that irked the official who immediately left the area," Lista said in his memorandum.

At about 12:45 p.m., Atienza returned to the Balatero pier, stood near the gang plank and reportedly confronted Domingo again. But Domingo replied that he was just doing his job in enforcing safety regulations. Hearing this, the mayor left without uttering any word.

Shortly after the vessel was finally allowed to sail, Lista said Atienza and his bodyguard returned, confronted Domingo for the third time and allegedly threatened him.

At about 8 p.m., Lista recounted that Lt. Cdr. Christopher Caunan, station commander of Coast Guard-Calapan, who was informed about the incident, called up Oriental Mindoro provincial administrator Nestor Panahon via a cellular phone to arrange a dialogue with Atienza to "settle the issue." Panahon replied that he would inform the mayor about it.

But at about 5:30 p.m. the following day, a certain PO3 Eduardo Balana, a Puerto Galera policeman, went to the Coast Guard detachment and inquired about the complete name of Domingo, allegedly on orders of his superior.

PO1 Juan Carolino, petty officer-in-charge of the Coast Guard detachment in Puerto Galera, however, denied Balana’s request since he could not justify his request, Lista narrated in his memorandum.

Lista informed Alvarez that some port workers and employees were allegedly being convinced to complain against Domingo but they instead "even praised and supported FN2 Domingo’s strict enforcement of the vessel passenger capacity regulation."