DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 22 January) – The commander of the Coast Guard Santa Ana Substation and six other personnel have been relieved from their posts effective January 19 as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) amid an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of MBCA Amejara.
The relief was meant to prevent any possible influence on the ongoing probe, Lt. Jason Labadia, acting commander of Coast Guard Station Davao, told reporters on Thursday.
The relieved Coast Guard personnel are on “floating status” and have been reassigned to the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) at Kilometer 10, Port Area, Sasa, this city, while awaiting the results of the inquiry, he said.
The recreational motor vessel was reported missing on January 19 and later known to have capsized due to rough sea conditions while traversing Davao Gulf.
Labadia said the officials were removed from their posts because they were the officers assigned to the Santa Ana substation at the time of the incident, but added that their liability could not yet be determined.
The boat left Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City at 8:00 p.m. on January 17, bound for Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. It was expected to arrive at its destination on January 19.
An initial report from CGDSM on January 19 stated that the MBCA Amejara had not been allowed to venture by PCG personnel because it had no permit from the Maritime Industry Authority.
Commander Macy Gabion, CGDSEM deputy commander, declined to comment on whether the former personnel of the Coast Guard Santa Substation had lapses but said that they “will be dealt with accordingly” should the investigation establish liability on their part.
But she said the Coast Guard conducts pre-departure inspection on all vessels departing from Santa Ana Wharf as part of its protocol to ensure the safety of the passengers.
Gabion, however, declined to give any details about the circumstances of the vessel’s departure from Santa Ana Wharf to Davao Oriental, saying such information would only be released once the investigation is completed.
She said efforts are currently concentrated on the search and rescue operations for 11 passengers and three of four crew members of MBCA Amejara who remain missing. One crew member identified as Christopher Bulig was rescued Tuesday in Davao Gulf.
“These small peculiarities, even boat passengers, technicalities, are important in the investigation. If we inform you of small details, it would preempt the result of the investigation,” she said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
