The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to file charges against the captain and the crew of MBCA Princess Aya, the passenger vessel that sank off the waters of Laguna De Bay in Binangonan, Rizal on Thursday afternoon.
Interviewed during DZRH's Damdaming Bayan on Friday, PCG Spokesperson Real Admiral Armand Balilo said the filing of charges against the captain and crew was instructed by PCG Chief Admiral Artemio Abu.
He bared that the boat's captain Donald Anain confessed that there had been an overloading of passengers.
"Siya mismo ang umamin na 22 lang yung na-submit niyang manifest na pasahero at hindi niya alam na yung dalawang crew niya ay nagpasakay pa ng marami at sila ay umalis nang walang clearance [mula] sa Coast Guard," Balilo said.
"Ibigsabihin, yung 22 [na pasahero] lang ang cinlear nila sa Coast Guard at hindi na yung mga sumunod na sinakay nila," he added.
PCG Spokesperson Armand Balilo sa lumubog na pampasaherong barko sa Binangonan, Rizal: May mga tauhan tayo doon at ongoing ang retrieval operations. Nakausap natin ang kapitan [ng barko]. #DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) July 28, 2023
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The data released by the PCG on Thursday evening showed that the sunken boat carried 66 passengers — 26 passengers perished and 40 others were rescued.
The Coast Guard said MBCA Princess Aya has a maximum passenger capacity of 42 seats.
The PCG spokesperson also mentioned that they are probing the reason why the passengers were not wearing life vests.
"Ito naman ay basic na dapat suotin. Nakita niyo naman na kahit sa ibang areas, automatic na pagsakay ng bangka ay nakasuot na ang life jacket," he said.
Balilio assured that they will also investigate if there had been neglect on the part of their personnel.
Witness Ferdinand Nogalesa told DZRH that no PCG personnel had responded to the incident and that the passengers did not wear life jackets.
Nogalesa: Wala [life vest na pinasuot] pero dapat may gano'n, pinapasuot dapat ang pasahero ang life jacket kasi masama ang panahon at dapat may Coast Guard na ganito ang panahon na maulan. Dumating kami sa bayan, walang Coast Guard. #DosPorDos
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) July 27, 2023
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As of this writing, search and retrieval operation by PCG and other authorities is still ongoing.
