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President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday gave the Philippine Coast Guard
15 days to complete its investigation report on the sinking of a
ferry last month.
She issued the deadline in a speech delivered
after her recent visit to the United States.
In her speech, President Arroyo said she also
wants a “full accounting” by the Coast Guard of the
circumstances that led to the capsizing of Princess of the Stars off
the country’s central province of Romblon on June 21.
She earlier ordered the Coast Guard to find out
who should be held responsible for allowing the ferry to leave port
despite bad weather.
There were 751 passengers and 111 crew aboard
when the incident happened, according to a statement by Sulpicio
Lines Inc., owner of Princess of the Stars. As of Tuesday, no more
than 60 survivors have been confirmed rescued. More than 140 bodies
have been recovered, while hundreds remain missing.
Sulpicio Lines has sued the national weather
bureau over the sinking, claiming that inaccurate weather forecasts
from the agency had caused the incident.
Malacañang also on Tuesday said it will back
the weather bureau, or Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), as it battles the
shipping firm in court.
Sulpicio Lines on Monday filed a P3-million
damage suit before the Manila Regional Trial Court against Pagasa
for “gross negligence and incompetence” in predicting Typhoon
Frank’s path on June 21.
“We believe Pagasa would have all the
objective data and evidence that would say that they have given the
warning to different stakeholders, including Sulpicio Lines,” said
Anthony Golez, Malacañang deputy spokesman. He added that the
damage suit was “predictable.”
Golez said the government believes that the
weather bureau could prove that it was issuing accurate weather
forecasts at the time of the incident.
He added that Malacañang is confident that the
court would give due process to all parties and resolve the issue.
Pagasa said the typhoon, which was supposed to
hover above the Bicol region, suddenly changed path and hit Romblon
and the provinces of Panay Island in the Visayas on June 21.
Princess of the Stars sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon province in
central Philippines.
Authorities said the ferry sailed into the eye
of the storm instead of taking shelter.
-- Xinhua and Angelo S. Samonte
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