American hero in Ormoc sea tragedy opposes murder raps vs banca owner, crew July 6, 2015 8:55pm 2321 140 0 2469 Some survivors in the sinking of the passenger banca MB Kim Nirvana last Thursday consider American Larry Drake a hero for saving three of his co-passengers including a young boy and a pregnant woman. In an interview with GMA News, Drake said it was wrong for the police to charge with murder the owner and the crew of the motorized outrigger. "In my personal opinion, it's wrong. They did a good job. They really did. They tried to save people. I think it was just an accident. Everybody was saying it was overloaded, the captain did an illegal maneuver... But these people [who are] saying all these stuff are not on the boat," he said in a report on GMA-7's "24 Oras" on Monday. More from: American hero in Ormoc sea tragedy opposes murder raps vs banca owner, crew | News | GMA News Online
If you don't like the News, just change to a different station or wait for the News to change. Yesterday afternoon I watched CNN Philippines and the US fellow said (more or less); "if the crew is charged then the 2 coast guard guys should also be charged for releasing the boat" This part was missing from the evening news. He did not say the CG personnel were on board to inspect the ferry but it was more or less implied. "the CG needs to review their search and rescue procedures, they were recovering dead bodies while live people were in the water, dead is dead, get them later" Again that clip was omitted from the evening news. He may very well find himself "persona Non-grata". In the afternoon it was reported that some names on the passenger list had been changed. The CG said that is dis-honest and the CG will not be giving any more interviews until their investigation is complete. I don't remember the owners of the ship and ferry that collided off Cebu two years a go where 114 people died. Selective justice, maybe.
Opps, brain fart. "I don't remember the owners of the ship and ferry that collided off Cebu two years a go where 114 people died. Selective justice, maybe." should have been; I don't remember the owners or captains of the ship and ferry that collided off Cebu two years a go where 114 people died being arrested. Selective justice, maybe.
It does make you wonder if anyone ever does go to jail over these sorts of accidents,we never hear any news articles of the outcome. Maybe it's just because the justice system runs at a snails pace here and most of us will be in a box before its all finished.
MANILA - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commander in Ormoc, LTSG Adonis Anasco, has been relieved to allow investigators to look into officials’ supposed shortcomings that led to the sinking of MB Kim Nirvana last week. This was confirmed by PCG District Commander Pedro Tinampay. Sources from the PCG revealed that the top leadership is also studying whether to relieve Tinampay. The latter was at the Ormoc Port when the accident happened at noon of July 2. Some survivors alleged it took about half an hour before the first rescue unit of the PCG arrived on the scene. Larry Drake, one of the survivors, alleged smaller fishing boats even showed up first before the PCG. He also said the vessel did not have enough life jackets for all passengers. At least 61 people died in the incident. Two boarding officers of the PCG - Apprentice Seaman Fidel Blanco and Seaman John Sabado – were already relieved of duty pending investigation on why they allowed MB Kim Nirvana to set sail. PCG chief in Ormoc sacked after ferry sinking | ABS-CBN News
The investigation seems to be moving along pretty quickly so far. Once it hits the courts though.....
Mr drake seems to have been mentioned a few times in different reports,telling the story how it was and now a few people have been arrested or sacked. I have not seen many reports of locals in the articles,maybe they are just too scared to talk to the press due to repercussions! I think if I were Mr drake I would move islands quite quickly.
Dinopol said all motor bancas with an upper deck will be immediately subjected to re-evaluation and re-inspection, following the prescribed procedures to include review of approved plans, including stability and load markings. He said they want all upper decks of motor bancas operating in Cebu to be demolished. ...... Mejia issued a separate advisory to all owners/operators of passenger ships and motor bancas with open deck, reiterating a previous order for the mandatory wearing of lifejackets for passengers on board. Marina requires all passengers on board motor bancas in the open deck to wear lifejackets prior to departure, and at all times, during the voyage. A passenger who refuses to wear lifejackets will be requested to disembark. Nirvana victims' families seek justice | Sun.Star I don't agree with the government destroying people's property because of a preventable accident. I have also never seen a lifejacket on a ferry. Wonder how they are going to enforce these two orders. I bet 2Go shipping and the other large ferry owners are loving this order.
Incorrect loading given as the cause of the shipwreck, Leyte - The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) announced on Friday in the investigation of the House Committee announced that a false charge and do not overcharge was the cause of the sinking of the MB Kim Nirvana-B. In the shipwreck off Ormoc City's, a total of 62 passengers were on 2 July (see article 04.07.2015) died. MARINA Administrator Maximo Mejia Jr. says that MB Kim Nirvana-B is approved for 178 passengers and 16 crew members. According to Mejia, the ship is 225 passengers and 18 crew members expired and had invited more than 100 bags of rice and cement. He says the ship only had a weight load of 50 tonnes, which corresponds to only half of the total capacity of 100 tons. The MARINA is the captain of the ship to blame, because the cargo was loaded on the upper deck and the passengers were seated in the lower deck. Debt is also the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) given by Ormoc City that the ship allowed the phasing out, although no lifejackets on Borad were. The MARINA had recently banned in the Circular 2015-07, the use of an upper deck for passenger and freight , Mejia says all outrigger boats with a second deck to be re-inspected and approved for non-compliance are met, only for use with the lower deck. MARINA-7 lawyer Jose Cabatingan says that the owners and operators of the outrigger boats have started to remove their upper deck to follow the orders of the MARINA.EPD 11/07/2015 - 4:40
