6 Coast Guard, 8 Marina personnel relieved over Basilan ferry tragedy
MANILA, Philippines – Six Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel and eight from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) in Region IX have been relieved from their duties following the sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 in the waters of Basilan, which resulted in 52 fatalities.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez confirmed the development in a press conference, along with Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan and PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, on Wednesday, after reporting the “safety deficiencies” on board the MV Trisha Kerstin 3.
READ: DOTr orders Marina to file admin cases vs Aleson over ferry tragedy
According to Lopez, the following PCG personnel have been relieved and will face administrative cases:
Station Commander, Coast Guard Station in Zamboanga:
- Lt. Commander Tristan Jener Q. Erediano PCG
POIC Maritime Affairs Branch:
- PO2 Floryn A Malimban PCG
Boarding Team:
- PO1 Sabhal U Turaini 004199
- РOЗ Jestoni T Barreto PCG
- PO3 Khalid A Asmawil PCG
- PO3 Al-Yazar J Muyong PCG
Meanwhile, the following personnel of Marina have also been relieved from their posts:
- Engr. Jedini Nur A. Sibal, Director II
- Engr. Bevin M. Bibi., Senior Shipping Operations Specialist
- 2/M Jose Ray C. Quimiguing, Shipbuilding Specialist II
- Engr. Joeffrey G, Santos, Supervising Shipbuilding Specialist
- Engr. Nuljid M. Dimaano, Senior Shipbuilding Specialist
- Engr. Indira H. Lajarato, Engineer II
- Engr. Benigno G. Segovia, Shipping Operations Specialist II
- Engr. Rohanee T. Sappayani, Shipping Operations Specialist II
Lopez also said Sibal, Bibi, and Quimiguing have been preventively suspended and will face administrative charges for neglect of duty.
“If it comes out during the hearing of their administrative cases that they were grossly negligent in their duties, we will not hesitate to also file criminal cases against them for possible violations of, I believe, RA 3019, or what we call the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Lopez said in Filipino.
Shortly after midnight on Jan. 26, the RoRo passenger vessel, which departed from Zamboanga City bound for Jolo in Sulu, sank off Barangay Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town, Basilan.
READ: Marina to submit safety audit of PH domestic fleets but it will ‘take time’
The total death toll from the tragedy climbed to 52 as of Wednesday morning, while 24 other individuals remain missing, the PCG confirmed.
Lopez also said in the press conference that he has already ordered Marina to file administrative cases against Aleson and the crew of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 following the incident.
Lopez added that he also directed the Department of Transportation department legal to coordinate with Marina and PCG to study and prepare for the possible filing of criminal cases against the officers and owners of Aleson as well as the crew of the vessel. /mcm /gsg
