PCG vows fair probe on Cusi-owned ship’s sinking

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assured the public that it would conduct an impartial investigation on the sinking during a recent typhoon of the ferry M/V Starlite Atlantic, which is owned by the family of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo yesterday said that Starlite Ferries, owner of the Starlite Atlantic, is a company founded by Cusi while his son Francis is the firm’s president.

But even if the founder of the shipping company is a Cabinet member of the present Duterte administration, Balilo said that their Special Board of Marine Inquiry (SBMI) would conduct a fair investigation.

The 1,497-gross ton roll-on, roll-off (Roro) Starlite Atlantic with 33 crewmembers on board sank off Batangas last Dec. 26 at around 11 a.m. at the height of Typhoon Nina.

Only one dead has been confirmed and identified as Lyka Mae Banayal while 14 crewmembers were rescued, but 18 others remain missing.

Of the 18 crew missing, 11 are student-cadets taking their on-the-job training onboard the ill-fated ship.

Balilo said they have not received any pressure from Cusi or Starlite Ferries regarding their probe.

“The guidance of Coast Guard officer-in-charge Commodore Joel Garcia even long before is to conduct a swift and impartial investigation to ferret out the truth,” said Balilo.

He also said that the hearing being conducted by the SBMI on the passenger and cargo ship Starlite Atlantic would be transparent. The hearings started yesterday.

“Public transport is impressed with safety and should not compromised,” he added.

Cusi has reportedly been in the shipping business since 1973 and had worked as an assistant comptroller for a shipping line.

His company Starlite Ferries is a 100 percent Filipino-owned company that started operations in 1995 with Batangas-Calapan as its first route.

PCG Batangas station head Commander Raul Belesario chairs the five-man SBMI that would conduct the probe.

Belesario earlier clarified that the results of the investigation would be used to improve the existing regulations and laws to prevent another tragic incident similar to the Starlite Atlantic.

The SBMI was scheduled to start its hearing in Batangas yesterday and among those who would be subpoenaed are the 14 crewmembers who survived the incident and officials from Starlite Ferries.

Belesario, in a previous interview, could not say who among the Starlite Ferries officials would be called to attend.

He would leave it up to the SBMI to determine whom it would summon.