Coast Guard summons captain, owner of sunken Commando 6

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard has summoned the captain and owner of the boat that sank off Puerto Galera in Batangas last Saturday that killed 12 people.

Capt. Tranquilino Paiton, who will head the Special Board of Marine Inquiry, said they want Capt. Meliton Anilao and vessel owner Renato Ilagan to shed light on the sinking of M/B Commando 6.

“The purpose of the SBMI is to determine the cause of the accident and determine the liability of the owner and its officers,” he said. 

However, Paiton, who is also Coast Guard detachment deputy commander, said the fact that the boat’s captain remained missing could become a problem for their investigation.

“We are doing everything to find him,” he said.

Paiton said they realize the urgency in completing the investigation so they would like to begin the inquiry within the week.

In the succeeding hearings, they would also call in some of the survivors, he added.

The board already has the preliminary statements of the survivors, Paiton said.

The four other members of the SBMI are Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Enforcement Office chief Arnie Santiago, vice chairman; and Capt. Edwin Mestable, a master mariner; Capt. Gilbert Deligerio, a chief engineer, members; and Coast Guard Lt. Nhea Victoria Sulit, law member.

Initial information showed that the Commando 6 left the Port of Sta. Clara in Batangas bound for Puerto Galera when it reportedly encountered big waves that caused the ship to capsize.

Of the 12 people who died, nine were adults and three were infants. The vessel was owned by Ilagan Shipping Lines Water Transport.

The PCG identified the casualties as Lani Asedo, Coraine Beatriz Asedo, Joena Perez, Desiree Teodoro, Albino Pablico, Gregoria Pablica, Daisy Eugenio, Franco Eugenio, Anton Cruz, Tess Cruz, Japanese national Hosutani Shugi, and Nina Cads.

PCG District commander Commodore Cecil Chen said the vessel’s capacity was 42 passengers plus five crewmembers, or a total of 47.

But the actual number of passengers on board was 62 plus five crewmembers or a total of 67, thus it allegedly had 20 excess passengers.

Some of the survivors said when the 12.45-gross ton motorized boat was already sinking, two other vessels passed and the passengers merely took pictures and videos instead of helping them. Hopefully, the identities of the two vessels would come out during the investigation.

In Batangas City, Abdulla Perez, mother of Joena Perez, a telecommunication employee who died in the sea tragedy, said they received P22,000 from Ilagan Shipping Lines, owner of the Commando 6, to cover Joena’s burial expenses.

Mrs. Perez said they have to shell out at least P40,000 to get a more decent coffin and burial services for her daughter. – With Arnell Ozaeta