4 PCG, 2 MARINA Relieved Over Guimaras Iloilo Sea Tragedy
GUIMARAS – Four (4) Philippine Coast Guards and 3 MARINA officials were relieved over the sea tragedy in Guimaras.
On August 3, Saturday, three wooden boats capsized during bad weather in Guimaras. Lots of people mourn over the death of the passengers.
The survivors said they almost reached their destination when a current of the water changed and overturned their boats.
In a previous article, Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) recorded 31 deaths from the sea accident in Guimaras. Agency’s spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said there are still three (3) passengers who are missing.
Based on a report from GMA News, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said 4 PCG and 2 Maritime Industry Authority officials were temporarily relieved from their post after the tragic incident. Tugade explained that they did that to give way to the investigation.
“Para lang ho magkaroon nang konting objectivity at malalim na imbestigasyon, ginawa namin yung nararapat na kung saan kahapon ho sabi namin yung mga na-involved dito sa lugar na ‘to tumabi-tabi muna, relieve muna,” he said.
According to the report, among the officials who are relieved from the position are the Coast Guard Station Commander in Guimaras and Iloilo and the 2 clearing officer of the two stations who are responsible for the discharge of the sea vessel.
The director of MARINA in Region 6 was also temporarily relieved from duty including the head of the Franchising and Domestic shipping of the region.
The officials who were released from duty were now replaced.
Based on the report, Arthur Tugade explained why they have to temporarily remove those officials amid the investigation.
“Ayaw ko pong pangunahan ang pangkalahatang imbestigasyon, ang masasabi ko lang there is an on going investigation tinitingnan ho namin una sa imbestigasyon, una, ano yung kadahilanan sa kalikasan, anu yung kadahilanan kung meron sa istruktura ano yung kadahilanan kung meron yung sa mga tinatawag natin na fishing boat ano yung tinatawag kung meron man na squall, lahat ho sinisilip ito,” he said.
A thorough investigation of the incident is really necessary to prevent this kind of sea tragedy in the future.
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