The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced Wednesday, June 1, that it has filed criminal charges against four officers of MV Happy Hiro, the cargo vessel that collided with a Filipino fishing boat in Agutaya, Palawan.
Admiral Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant, said reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple injuries, and damage to properties were lodged against Captain Amir Meshay, a Croatian national; Second Mate Bogdan George Antonie, a Romanian national; and Filipino officers Tyrone Maquiling and Mckinley Amante.
The cases were filed at the Antique Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, May 31.
The May 30 collision resulted in the sinking of FV JOT-18 which was carrying 20 Filipino fishermen. Thirteen of the fishermen were rescued, including some who sustained injuries, while seven of them remained missing.
Based on the results of the joint investigation of the PCG and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the MV Happy Hiro, a cargo vessel sailing under the flag of Marshall Island, left its port without clearance from the PCG which is a violation of PCG Memorandum Circular No. 07-12.
The vessel came from China and was headed to Australia when the collision happened.
Abu further stated that Meshay failed to accomplish the Master Declaration of Safe Departure (MDSD).
It is a statement of the master of the vessel executed and submitted before a station commander or detachment commander prior to departure “to attest the vessel’s safe condition, status prior compliance to safety rules, and readiness to sail to its intended voyage.”
The officers of the MV Happy Hiro are facing a penalty of P60,000 for the two violations.
Meanwhile, Abu disclosed that the PCG has shifted its operations from search and rescue to search and retrieval to find the seven fishermen who went missing after the collision.