Philippine Coast Guard went on a search and rescue operations around the capsized passenger boat M/B Princess Aya in the waters off Binangonan, Rizal on July 28, 2023. (REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday lodged a criminal charge against the boat owner and boat captain of the motorbanca that capsized in the waters off Binangonan, Rizal during the height of typhoon Egay.
“The PCG filed a complaint for syndicated estafa against the boat owner, boat captain, and the officers and members of Tipmopa (Talim Island Motorboat and Patrons Association) based on fraud and misrepresentation before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Taytay, Rizal, at around 1:30 p.m. today, 02 August 2023,” PCG said in an advisory.
Rear Admiral Hostillo Arturo Cornelio, Commander of PCG District in Metro Manila and Central Luzon, said Tipmopa was sued because it has no accreditation in operating the Port of Pritil in Talim island in Binangonan.
The boat had departed from this pier before it overturned.
“Syndicated estafa [was filed by the PCG] because Tipmopa, for the past several years, has been operating and deceiving the public and they are not accredited [to operate in the port],” Cornelio said in a statement, partly in Filipino.
“If you can notice, the pier was disorganized. It has no ticketing equipment, and they are the ones who control the scheduling of the motorbanca,” he added.
A motorbanca named Princess Aya capsized about 50 yards off Barangay Kalinawan last July 27.
This incident left 27 people dead.
43 survived the tragedy.
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