PCG perplexed by bribe claims of boat captain in Binangonan tragedy

“That’s absurd.”

This was how Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reacted to the claims of the captain of the ill-fated motorbanca (MBCA) Princess Aya that coast guard personnel were bribed with P50 and bananas in exchange for favors which enabled the boat to sail despite exceeding its passenger limit.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo belied the claims made by Donald Anain during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, August 8, that on-duty coast guard personnel of PCG Sub-Station Binangonan accepted P100 worth of bananas and P50 as bribe which allowed the boat to travel.

“That's absurd. I do not think our personnel would resort to accepting banana and fifty pesos in exchange of favors,” Balilo said.

“The captain denied giving liquors to our personnel. Our personnel also denied demanding any of these items. Wala silang tinatanggap (They did not receive anything),” he added.

MBCA Princess Aya departed from Binangonan Port en route to Talim Island when it capsized after being hit by strong winds approximately 45 meters from the shores of Laguna de Bay in Binangonan, Rizal on July 27.

The boat was carrying 68 persons – 63 passengers and five crew members – despite having a capacity for 42 persons only. 

PO2 Jay Rivera, of the PCG sub-station in Binangonan, reportedly admitted during the Senate hearing that he signed a manifesto which indicated that the boat was only carrying 22 passengers so it was allowed to travel.

The incident claimed the lives of 27 passengers while 41 others survived.

The PCG had said that it filed before the Office of the Prosecutor in Taytay, Rizal a case of syndicated estafa against the MBCA Princess Aya boat owner, boat captain, and officials and members of the Talim Island Motorboat and Patrons Association (Tipmopa) on August 2. 

It said that there was a “deception” when MBCA Princess Aya was allowed to carry more than 60 passengers despite the manifesto stating that there were only 22 passengers.