MANILA (UPDATE)— The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said it relieved 2 of its personnel stationed in Binangonan, Rizal after a passenger boat capsized in a lake there the day before, claiming the lives of 26 people.

During a press briefing, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Artemio Abu said the personnel were stationed in Binangonan port and were responsible for monitoring the movement of the vessels in the area.

“Hindi pa natin masabi agad na may pagkukulang sila. Kaya ang purpose ng investigation, for us to determine kung meron ba silang pagkukulang sa pagganap sa kanilang tungkulin," Abu said.

"So the reason why we need to replace, relieve them from their post is para hindi na sila maka-interfere sa fair conduct of investigation," he said. “Pag may mga tao tayo na may inadequacy o pagkukulang sa kanilang tungkulin, kasama yan sa disciplinary measure na ginagawa natin sa ating organisasyon, kailangan ay accountable sila.”

(We cannot say yet whether they had shortcomings. That's what we will find out in the investigation. We replaced them, relieved them from their post so they cannot interfere with the investigation. We have discplipinary measures for personnel who fell short in their duties.)

Only two personnel of the Coast Guard are assigned at the substation in Binangonan. Before the motorized boat "Aya Express" sailed, the Coast Guard was presented with a manifest by the boat captain that only 22 passengers would be boarding the motorbanca.

PCG Spokesperson Armand Balilo, for his part, said in a separate briefing that the coast guard and the national police would investigate the boat tragedy.

Based on initial reports on the ground, the Coast Guard supposedly allowed the motorbanca to sail, since no tropical cyclone wind signal was hoisted in the area.

• Kaanak ng mga nasawi sa tumaob na bangka sa Rizal, humihingi ng hustisya

"On the part ng Philippine Coast Guard, tayo ay mag-iimbestiga rin at titingnan natin kung may pagkukulang na nagawa 'yung mga tauhan natin," Balilo said in a public briefing.

"Tuloy ang investigation na ginagawa natin sa Talim Island at makakaasa tayo na hindi natin ito-tolerate kung may pagkakamali po ang personnel ng Philippine Coast Guard," the official said.

(We will look into whether our personnel erred. We will not tolerate errors by our personnel.)

The decision on a motorbanca's "seaworthiness" lies with the local government units and is not regulated by the PCG, Balilo noted.

"Mag pag-amin nang ginawa ang kapitan na talagang inoverload niya ang boat at hindi pinasuot ang life jacket," he added.

"Titingnan natin kung ano ang kalalabasan ng imbestigasyon at base sa mga dapat gawin ay gagawa tayo ng kaukulang aksyon," he said.

(The boat captain admitted that the boat was overloaded and passengers were not wearing life jackets. Our next steps will depend on the probe.)

Strong winds lashed the MB Aya Express, causing it to overturn less than 50 meters away from Barangay Kalinawan at around 1 p.m. Thursday.

Initial probe showed while the motorbanca only had 42 seating capacity, it had at least 60 passengers on board. The captain of the vessel said only 22 people listed down their names on the passenger manifest.

Binangonan Mayor Cesar Ynares said the Coast Guard could also face investigation for failing to monitor the number of passengers boarding the vessel.

ACCOUNTABILITY, MOVING FORWARD

The Philippine Coast Guard said the ship owners and the boat captains should also be held accountable for the safety of their passengers.

“We are leaving it to the discretion of the captain kasi hindi namin kita, hindi rin kita ng tao natin na 22 lang ang sakay, alam nya ang authorized… ang actually on board base sa dokumentong kanyang pinirmahan," Abu said.

(Our personnel only know that 22 people were onboard, by the captain knows how many he authorized.)

The Coast Guard prohibited sailing during the onslaught of super typhoon Egay. It lifted the no-sail policy on Thursday shortly after the storm left the Philippine area and the weather cleared.

“Dumami ngayon ang stranded. So yung mga stranded na yan, sila ang nagpumilit na sumakay and that was beyond the control of the (boat) captain,” Abu said.

(Many were stranded during the typhoon. And those people insisted on boarding the boat and that was beyond the control of the captain.)

The PCG said it planned to meet with the boat owners, captains, and regulators soon on the safety of passenger vessels.

Additional coast guard personnel were deployed to Binangonan Port to check the motorboats on Friday.

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