THE skipper of the ill-fated passenger vessel which capsized last month off Binangonan, Rizal yesterday claimed he bribed Philippine Coast Guard personnel so their boat would be allowed to sail even with obvious violations.
Donald Anain, captain of M/B Aya Express, told the Senate Committee on Public Services inquiry that he “gave” some P100 worth of bananas and P50 in cash to PCG personnel before they left the port.
He said it was “normal” to give goodies such as cigarettes, bread, and alcoholic drinks to PCG personnel detailed in the area.
“‘Yung ano lang…pampangiti…Kailangan po magdala ka po ng kahit alin po…Bumili lang ako ng P100 na saging…at saka ‘yung P50 na money, pang-meryenda…Wala akong binigay na alak, saging lang (I gave something that will make them ‘smile’… I needed to bring anything, so I bought P100 worth of bananas and handed P50 for their snacks…I did not give them alcoholic drinks, only bananas),” Anain said.
He confessed that he has no license to operate a motor banca, adding what he has is a seafarer identification book, which is equivalent to a student driving permit for motor vehicles.
He said the PCG allowed him to sail even if he does not have the appropriate license.
“Ino-honor naman ng coast guard na maglayag kami (The coast guard allows us to sail),” he added.
He said he charges regular passengers P50 each, while seniors and students are charged P40.
He said his boat can only make one trip a day three to four times a week due to the rotation of boats on duty.
M/B Aya Express has a sitting capacity of 42 passengers but it carried more than 60 when it capsized last July 28, resulting in the death of 27 persons.
Nanette Dinopol, Maritime Industry Authority deputy administrator for operations, said a person will be issued a license after he undergoes basic safety training being held by the agency.
Coast Guard PO2 Jay Rivera, the PCG sub-station commander in Binangonan, said he did not physically inspect the M/B Aya Express and only signed the master declaration of safety departure.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo said had Rivera not been remiss on his job, lives could have been saved.
“Had you done your job, you could have prevented it from sailing. It was overloaded…The boat was full of cargo; the passengers had no life vests. You were there, you should have stopped it,” Tulfo said.
PCG Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu admitted there were lapses by their personnel, the reason why Rivera and his immediate supervisor were immediately relieved from their posts.
The committee headed by Sen. Grace Poe conducted the hearing based on a resolution she filed seeking accountability on why the boat capsized. Aside from the 27 dead, scores were hurt after the boat was hit by strong winds 45 meters away from land.
Poe said she was not surprised by the admission of Anain giving bribes so that PCG personnel will turn a blind eye to violations.
She said P50 may be a small amount but if there are 20 boats set to sail daily, that would amount to P1,000 in extra earnings for PCG personnel per day.
The Rizal Police Provincial Office has filed charges against all those involved in the tragedy.
