Senator Raffy Tulfo



Senator Raffy Tulfo on Saturday, July 29 demanded accountability from authorities for the deaths of 27 passengers of motorbanca Princess Aya that capsized off Binangonan, Rizal. It was reported that Princess Aya’s maximum capacity is only 30 passengers but it was allowed to sail with about 70 passengers on board without enough life vests, in addition to bad weather conditions. The boat was on its way to Talim island in Laguna Lake Thursday, July 27 when tragedy struck. Tulfo said relevant government authorities, including the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), that allowed the tragedy to happen should not get off the hook. “Dalawampu't pito na buhay ang nasawi dahil sa  lumubog na bangkang Princess Aya (27 lives were lost because of the Princess Aya sinking). Nangyari ito sapagkat naging pabaya na naman ang mga awtoridad tulad ng PCG at MARINA (This happened because of neglect of authorities such as PCG and MARINA). Na gaya sa mga nakaraang trahedya sa karagatan, pinayagang maglagay ang lumubog na bangka kahit na masama ang panahon, overloaded at walang sapat na live vest dito (Like in past tragedies, the vessel was allowed to sail despite the bad weather…it was overloaded and there were not enough life vests),” Tulfo said. “Bukod sa may-ari ng bangka at mga tripulante nito, dapat mayroon ding masampolan na mga taga PCG at MARINA dahil sa paulit-ulit na lang na pangyayaring ito at tila nananadya na sila (Aside from the owner and crew of the vessel, those at the PCG and MARINA should be charged because they allowed such incidents to be repeated),” he added. Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go agreed, and said, "Managot kung may dapat managot, at alamin ang katotohanan para hindi maulit ang trahedya (Those liable should be made to answer and find in truth behind the tragedy)." Go, chairman of the Senate  Health and Demography Committee, said he supports calls for investigation into the tragic Laguna Lake incident. Tulfo lamented that the sunken ship or boat’s crew members are often the ones punished and sent to jail, and in most cases, the boat owners get away with their lapses. “Ang masaklap pa, puro imbestigasyon na lamang hinggil sa kapabayaan ng PCG at MARINA at wala pa talagang nasasampolan sa kanila (What hurts is the usual routine of investigating lapses of PCG and MARINA and no one has been formally indicted),” he stressed. The two senators likewise maintained that this is not the first time that something bad and fatal happened due to the negligence of maritime authorities. It may be recalled that in a Senate hearing last March 14, Tulfo also berated the PCG personnel who allowed MT Princess Empress to sail without permit to operate. The sinking of the tanker caused a massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro and other areas, and affected 172,928 individuals with some of whom acquired injuries or illnesses. Tulfo said he had drafted a Senate resolution to ensure that the PCG and MARINA, along with its officers, are held accountable in the name of command responsibility whenever a ship or a boat sinks due to negligence.