Two firms, Coast Guard official charged for disregard of public safety

The National Bureau of Investigation has filed separate criminal charges against the owners and officers of a Cebu City-based shipping company, a compressed gas corporation in Mandaue City, and a Coast Guard official before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office and the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas for allegedly transporting dangerous cargo using a public conveyance in wanton disregard of public safety.

Charged before the prosecutor’s office for violation of Presidential Decree 601, otherwise known as the Revised Coast Guard Law; Coast Guard Memorandum Circular 101; Fire Code of the Philippines, and Safety of Life at Sea, were the board of directors of Mandaue Compressed Gases Corporation - Chu Mon Fui, Betty Chu, Fernando Co, Tan Ze Siok, Tan Eng Hok, Antonio Tan and Johnson Mui.

Also named respondents were Arthur Kenneth Sy, Judith Ann Sandoval, Abraham Sy, Julian Sy, Jr., Francisco Sy and Norma Canizares, board of directors of Trans-Asia Shipping Lines; skipper Rudy Verba and chief mate Luperio Botoga of M/V Trans-Asia II.

A separate case for violation of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, was also filed by the NBI against Cebu Coast Guard station commander Elpidio Gunio before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

The case stemmed from complaints separately filed by Msgr. Achilles Dakay in his capacity as chairman of the Metro Cebu Consumers Association and Cirse “Choy” Torralba of radio station dyLA on June 12 and 17 requesting for an investigation into the alleged shipment of dangerous cargo without observing the proper safety procedures.

Acting on the complaints, NBI operatives led by Special Investigator Arnel Pura, in coordination with the Cebu Ports Authority, conducted an inspection at the pier area on the evening of July18 where they found 112 assorted oxygen and acetylene gas filled cylinders loaded to M/V Trans-Asia II bound for Ozamiz City.

The investigation revealed that one of the shippers of the said dangerous cargo was Mandaue Compressed Gases Corporation, which reportedly consigned at least 80 oxygen tanks to A & D Tope Marketing in Ozamiz City.

According to the NBI, the cylinders were not labeled, marked or identified as mandated under the law. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV