MARINA questioned over Basilan ferry sinking

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday questioned the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) following the deadly sinking of a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry in Basilan waters on Monday. 

Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, called MARINA “inutile” for the agency’s supposed negligence. He said that someone should be held liable for the tragedy that has so far caused at least 18 fatalities.

“This is really unacceptable. Dapat meron talagang managot dito. Kulang po ang suspension, kung pwede dapat may makulong (someone should really be held accountable for this. Suspension is not enough, someone should be jailed if needed),” the senator said during a committee hearing. 

He questioned why Aleson Shipping Lines, owner of the ill-fated M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, was still allowed to operate despite reportedly being involved in 32 maritime incidents since 2019. 

“So ibig sabihin, ang mga barko nito ay considered bilang floating coffins, ‘yung mga lumulutang na mga kabaong,” Tulfo said. 

(So that means, these vessels are considered as floating coffins.) 

“Bakit pinayagan? Bakit hindi muna ni-review ang mga barko, siniguro na maayos at seaworthy itong mga barko na ito at ang mga pahinante nila o mga tripulante nila ay well-trained sa pagsisiguro na ‘yung barko nila talaga ay maayos at kung papaano nila tugunan ang isang sakuna kapag nangyari man ‘yun,” he added. 

(Why were they allowed [to operate]? Why were the vessels not reviewed first, made sure that they are working properly and are seaworthy and that their captains or crews are well-trained in ensuring that their vessels are in proper condition and they could respond to a disaster if it happens.) 

MARINA Engineer Emmanuel Carpio, officer in charge of the Office of the Deputy Administrator for Operations, said the Basilan incident was tagged as “very serious” and has resulted in suspensions. 

“May mga suspension po. In fact, kasama po ang mga ating mga officers kung talagang they were found na talagang sila ay negligible doon sa kanilang mga functions,” Carpio explained.

(There have been suspensions. In fact, this includes our officers if they were really found to be negligible in their functions.) 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday grounded the entire fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, which owns the sunken ferry.

Aside from the 18 people confirmed dead,10 others remain missing, according to the DOTr as of Monday evening.

In an incident report, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the vessel sank while en route to Jolo, Sulu at around 1:50 a.m. on January 26 after departing Zamboanga City. It was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members when the incident happened approximately 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan. —RF, GMA Integrated News