Seafarers to PNoy : Act on case vs Marina exec

MANILA, Philippines - A group of seafarers on Wednesday called on President Benigno Aquino III  to act on its appeal to immediately sack a Maritime Industry Authority official accused of nepotism. 

United Filipino Seafarers president Nelson Ramirez, in a motion filed before the Office of the President, asked Malacañang to act on their earlier case of nepotism filed against Marina Deputy Administrator Gloria Banas.

Banas appointed her brother and sister in law to key positions in the agency, Ramirez said.

He said  President Aquino should either sack or suspend Banas from her post. 

Ramirez said that Banas continuously collect her salary and other entitlements despite her being absent from office since the last week of January of this year.

"It is immaterial whether she in on leave or not.  She is not in the office where she is supposed to work as Deputy for Operations, a task the President  mandated her to perform.  And Atty. Banas is remiss of her duty," he added.

Ramirez also questioned why Marina Administrator Maximo Mejia Jr. has acted on the complaint against Banas.
 
"Disgusted over the lack of foresight of Marina to confront problems and provide solutions and worried that if such incompetence continues, we will end up with no jobs," Ramirez said.

He noted that foremost of these is the move of MARINA to replace the official Seafarers Identification Record Book  document being given to legitimate seafarers with a piece of paper called “SIR Sheet” or Seafarers Identification Record Sheet.

He said this is the first time in the entire world and only in the Philippines that a government maritime agency issued a piece of paper instead of the "book."

Ramirez said seafarers are already burdened, joining daily long lines just to secure the SIRB document only to find out at the end of the line that the document has been replaced with a sheet of paper.

He said the unjustified shortage of the regular SIRB has resulted in  the proliferation of fake Seaman’s Book and other seafaring certificates that are now being sold to unsuspecting victims.

Also, seafarers usually start queuing before midnight, long before the agency opens at 8 a.m. the next day.

Ramirez said seafarers also have to secure a Certificate of Proficiency from Marina, which also takes a long time to obtain.