Sulpicio has 30 days to appeal probe results on 'Princess' tragedy

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will submit to the Transportation department today the findings of a Marine probe body into a ferry tragedy in the Visayas more than two months ago. Vice-Admiral Wilfredo G. Tamayo, PCG commandant, on Monday said he had approved the findings and recommendations of the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) but declined to disclose its contents. He said any disclosure of the report will be "premature and prejudicial" since Sulpicio Lines, Inc., owner of the sunken MV Princess of the Stars that capsized off Romblon province on June 21, has 30 days from today to submit an appeal to the Transportation department based on the Philippine Merchant Marine Rules and Regulations. Otherwise, Mr. Tamayo said they will consider the recommendations "final and executory." Repeated calls and text messages to Sulpicio Lines officials were left unanswered Monday. Mr. Tamayo said, "I think [the report] can stand and sustain the observations by the board. I can’t disclose the charges but the courts will have to take over later on." He declined to comment on whether or not the report pinpointed liabilities on involved individuals or groups. Mr. Tamayo said they also have recommendations for concerned agencies such as the PCG; Maritime Industry Authority; Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa); and Philippine Ports Authority, but he did not elaborate. At one point during the BMI hearings, Sulpicio Lines had blamed Pagasa for issuing erratic weather bulletins which it claimed led to the vessel’s sinking. Earlier, BMI member Capt. Demetrio D. Ferrer said the tragedy was due to error in judgment by ship captain Florencio M. Marimon, Sr., who pursued the voyage despite bad weather. The BMI reopened its probe on Aug. 1 after terminating proceedings on July 17, as authorities demanded documents and testimonies related to toxic cargo that sank with the ship, and alterations to the vessel that affected its seaworthiness. The board was convened by the Transportation department as a fact-finding body to investigate the sea tragedy that claimed more than 800 lives. Of the more than 850 passengers and crew on board the vessel going to Cebu from Manila, 30 survived, more than 200 were confirmed dead and more than 500, including the ship captain, still missing and believed trapped inside the upturned ship.