PCG eyes charges vs captain, crew of capsized Laguna Lake ferry

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is eyeing to wrap up its investigation and file charges against individuals involved in the capsizing of a passenger ferry in Binangonan, Rizal next week.

“Nagsisimula po iyong investigation na ginagawa ng Philippine Coast Guard kasama po ng Philippine National Police doon sa naturang insidente. Ang pinaka-goal po ay makapag-file na po ng kaso against doon sa captain saka doon sa crew,” PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Asked when the investigation will be completed and the charges will be filed, Balilo said, “Baka earliest niyan, Monday eh, kasi dapat mayroong period within which to file a case kasi naka-detain iyong captain.”

At 1 p.m. on Thursday, the MB Princess Aya capsized in Laguna Lake near Binangonan.

The PCG official said the death toll from the incident was 27, while 40 survived.

“On the search and rescue, hindi pa ho kami nagtanggal ng mga tao baka, alam ninyo na, mayroon pang makita o kaya may ma-retrieve pa. Nag-iwan pa rin po kami ng tao at hindi pa rin namin inaalis iyong possibility na baka mayroon pang na-trap doon sa ilalim,” Balilo said.

The captain of the boat is now in the custody of authorities, according to Darlene Cay's report on Unang Balita on Friday.

The captain maintained that he was not aware that the boat was overloaded.

“Iyong captain naman kasi obviously in-admit niya naman iyong mga pagkakamali; nag-submit ng manifest pero pagkatapos noon nagpasakay pa, tapos in-admit din na hindi sila nagpapa-life vest. So, titingnan natin,” Balilo said.

The PCG official said the charges to be filed would depend on the results of the investigation.

“Normally, kapag may aksidente sa kalsada, reckless imprudence resulting to homicide… Hindi ko masabi kung iyan ang magiging kaso sapagkat mayroong team ng lawyers na mag-aaral kung ano ang ikakaso sa kanila,” Balilo said.

Initial investigation showed the boat left the Port of Binangonan on Thursday and was en route to Talim Island when it was hit by strong winds 45 meters from land.

The strong winds allegedly panicked the passengers who then moved to the left side of the vessel causing the vessel to tilt and capsize, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

The M/B Princess Aya was allowed to sail since the storm signals due to Typhoon Egay had been lifted.

Intensify inspections

Balilo said the PCG would intensify its inspections of passenger ferries following the incident.

“Ang thrust po ng Philippine Coast Guard ngayon ay, base na rin po sa directive ng Presidente, itong darating na bagyo ay maging mahigpit tayo doon sa pag-inspect noong mga inter-island ferries at para maiwasan po iyong mga ganitong klase ng aksidente,” he said.

He added that the PCG already relieved the officers assigned to the Binangonan substation.

“And of course sa amin naman, on our part, we relieved already our station commander there and nasa headquarters na po sila, also undergoing investigation. So far iyon pa lang po naman at alam ko updated kayo doon sa nangyayari,” Balilo said.

The PCG official reiterated that its personnel were on standby to dive and scour the area should there be unaccounted passengers. — DVM, GMA Integrated News