Coastguard hunts killer cargo vessel
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has yet to identify the cargo ship that rammed a motorized banca Friday last week in the fishing ground off Baliguan Island in Barangay Malangabang, Concepcion, Iloilo. The sea accident resulted to the death of a fisherman.
The PCG-Iloilo Station Commander said they are in close contact with their counterpart in Bacolod City and other coast guard stations in Visayas to trace the ship so the ship captain could be held responsible for the accident.
Probers are checking on the sea routes of every cargo vessel that passed the sea lane from July 19 to 21, 2007. This is to determine on which ship used the route in going to Bacolod, Cebu or from Mindanao. The vicinity where the accident happened is one of the routes used by vessels in going to Cebu.
The sea mishap resulted to the death of Romy Buaya, 24, resident of Sitio Sanggutan, Barangay Pulopeña in Concepcion. He succumbed to a serious head injury. His father-in-law Narciso Solliquez survived the accident. Buaya's body was recovered by a fishing trawl after more than five hours that it submerged into the water. While, Silloquez was immediately rescued by a passing fisherman.
Buaya and Silloquez were on board MBCA Irene Joy when a fast approaching cargo vessel rammed their boat. Silloquez was able to jump off while his son-in-law was not able to leave the ship as he failed to notice the approaching vessel. The cargo vessel hit the starboard middle section of the fishing boat causing it to capsize.
The survivor later only identified the ship as "Bacolod" based on its rear end markings. The vessel left the fishing ground and ignored the accident it caused to the pumpboat and the fishermen. The damage of the totally wrecked fishing boat was estimated to P70,000.
It was not immediately known whether the pumpboat and the cargo vessel are equipped with navigational lights when they went on sea. The survivor found it hard to identify the cargo vessel because of the absence of light. The accident happened between 12:00 midnight to 1:00 am.
The coast guard conducted its own investigation apart from the Philippine National Police as the incident appeared to be covered by their functions. The Philippine Coast Guard is mandated by law to perform functions on Maritime Safety Administration, Maritime Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement and Maritime Operations. Maritime Safety Administration involves enforcement of safety of navigation regulations.