PCG: Boatmen control Binangonan port

MANILA, Philippines — While the Philippine Coast Guard has admitted lapses in enforcement that led to the boat tragedy in the waters off Binangonan in Rizal last month that killed 27 passengers, a PCG official has asserted that alleged control of port operations by the group of boatmen in the area had also led to the mishap.

During a Senate hearing last Tuesday, motor banca Aya Express skipper Donald Anain revealed that he gave P50 and P100 worth of bananas to a PCG official supposedly in charge of inspecting boats before it left the Pritil Port in Binangonan.

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said it was “unfortunate” that the accused PCG officer, who was among the five personnel already relieved from the Binangonan post, was not given time to explain and either deny or air his side.

In an interview aired over Radyo 5 92.3 True FM yesterday, Balilo said the accused officer confessed that he did not have time to inspect Aya Express since he was alone at the time and there were many boats filing their passenger manifest.

“It happened that the accused’s two fellow officers were not around as they went to the municipality’s office for a meeting, then a partner who also cleared was resting upstairs because he was on night duty,” he said in Filipino.

The five PCG officers are facing administrative proceedings while one of them, particularly the one at port when the boat sank, has been slapped with a criminal complaint.

Balilo, however, maintained that authorities should look into the situation at the port that he alleged has been controlled by the Talim Island Motorboat and Patrons Association or TIPMOPA.

He said that while the PCG convenes boatmen and their crew, TIPMOPA has been in charge of port activities like which boats should be allowed to sail.

“The PCG officers talk to the association, but the latter is the one that clears boats for travel and controls all port activities... Because of that trend, our officers lost control of the operations. Our officer had admitted that TIPMOPA had been allowed to control the situation in Binangonan,” Balilo said.

The PCG had previously filed syndicated estafa charges against TIPMOPA, aside from the captain and owner of Aya Express, before the Rizal provincial prosecutor.

Balilo also declared that the Maritime Industry Authority and the local government of Binangonan should take charge of checking the competence of boats and their operators.

He pointed out that the PCG only enforces safety protocols in passenger sea vessels.