Testifying before the Senate Public Services Committee, Donald Anain, the captain of the capsized MB Princess Aya divulged that he bribed members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to allow the ship to sail hours after Typhoon Egay left the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Pressed by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, Anain said he handed P100 worth of bananas and P50 cash to the PCG.
Anain said he usually gives money. Tulfo however, rejected the story of Asain that he only gave bananas and P50 cash since the boat was overloaded and had no license.
Anain also admitted before the panel chaired by Sen. Grace Poe that he only has Seafarer Identification Book (SIB) and that he has no license. He got the SIB after a three-day training with MARINA. The SIB, he said, is honored by MARINA and PCG.
The Philippine Coast Guard denied the allegations.
“That’s absurd. I do not think our personnel would resort to accepting banana and fifty pesos in exchange of favors. The Captain denied giving liquors to our personnel. Our personnel also denied demanding any of these items. Wala silang tinatangap (They did not receive anything),” PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo told the media in a message.
But MARINA and PCG said the boat captain should have a license.
Anain also said the boat has 50 life vests, and that he was only expecting 30 to 35 passengers that time.
PO2 Jay Rivera of the PCG assigned in Binangonan, Rizal where the tragedy occured said he signed the manifesto for only 22 passengers. Charles Dantes
Poe meanwhile said the government must ensure compliance with the highest maritime standards for the safety of passengers traveling by water. She said the tragedy “revealed serious maritime safety compliance lapses that need to be revisited.”
“In a country composed of thousands of islands, the Philippines should have the highest safety standards in water transportation,” she added.
Poe said the investigation aims to make those responsible for the incident accountable. She said this is a systemic failure borne out of the lack of proper implementation of existing maritime safety laws.
The senator also questioned the standards used in determining the seaworthiness of boats in carrying passengers and sailing.
Seaworthiness also involves the presence of competent vessel crew knowledgeable about safety issues and who can respond to emergency situations.
The senator pointed out that Republic Act No. 9993 mandates the Philippine Coast Guard to bar any vessel from sailing if found non-compliant to the regulations.
A total of 27 passengers perished in the July 27 incident involving MB Aya Express which sailed from the Port of Binangonan en route to Talim Island in the Laguna de Bay.
Poe said reports were clear that the boat was allowed to sail despite being overloaded and with incomplete manifesto. The passengers had no life vests. It was also discovered that the captain had no valid license.
“Indeed, this is a recipe for disaster – an accident waiting to happen. And it did,” Poe said.