BMI keeps mum on SuperFerry 9 probe
After conducting a two-day inquiry here, the team from the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) refused to give their initial assessment on the accounts made by Ilonggo survivors relative to the sinking of SuperFerry 9 early this month.
“The BMI does not want to prejudge the outcome of the investigation. We could not simply make conclusions after hearing the statements of the survivors,” said Atty. Ramon Reblora, spokesperson of the team.
Reblora, whose is from legal department of the Philippine Coast Guard, said they will not speculate on the cause of the sea mishap involving one of the ships of Aboitiz Shipping.
The probe will still continue in Manila after the Iloilo investigation held last week. BMI assured to maintain consistency and fairness in the conduct of the investigation.
The statements provided by Ilonggo survivors would be compared to the testimonies of the ship captain, crew and passengers from General Santos City. Some of those who served as resource persons during the investigation are people who are knowledgeable on seafaring.
However, the BMI refrained from giving hint on how their statements would be of value to the probers in pointing liabilities to the ship crews as well as the management.
Prior to the Iloilo investigation, the BMI also made an investigation in General Santos City. The first round of investigation was held in Manila with SuperFerry 9 ship Captain Joel Yap as resource person.
In his testimony, Yap theorized the strong winds may have caused the sinking. However, his claim was rejected by the Philippine Coast Guard.
The BMI was given 30-days to wrap its investigation and come up with results and recommendations regarding the sinking which claimed 9 lives. The conduct of investigation was in response to a marine protest and a complaint from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), said Reblora.
Reblora stressed the BMI is only focusing on three aspects in the conduct of the inquiry. These are to determine the cause or causes of the sinking, determine whether there is administrative liability on the part of the crew and owner of SuperFerry and recommend measures that same marine accident would be avoided in the future.
Probers maintained on the mandate given to them with regard to the cause of the sea accident, liability of the crews, ship owner and formulate recommendations. The compensation which the SuperFerry is embodied to pay to each survivor was not given emphasis during the conduct of the investigation.