Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) – The captain of the sunken motorbanca in Binangonan, Rizal has admitted giving a “pangiti” or bribe to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel to allow him to sail on July 27 even when the vessel was overloaded with passengers.
“Bumili lang po ako ng ₱100 na saging,” boat captain Donald Anain told the Senate Committee on Public Service on Tuesday. “Minsan, may involved din pong money na ₱50.”
[Translation: I just bought ₱100 worth of bananas. Sometimes, money worth ₱50 is also involved.]
PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said the sanctions for the sub-station commander who failed to inspect the boat in Rizal and his immediate supervisor are currently under evaluation by the national headquarters of PCG.
Meanwhile, PCG Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said Anain’s claim was “absurd.”
“I do not think our personnel would resort to accepting banana and ₱50 in exchange for favors,” Balilo told reporters.
“The captain denied giving liquors to our personnel. Our personnel also denied demanding any of these items. Wala silag tinatanggap [the do not accept anything],” he added.
According to the Maritime Industry Authority, motorbanca MB Aya Express, also known as Princess Aya, has an authorized capacity of 42 passengers, including four crew members.
Nearly 70 people were reportedly onboard Princess Aya when it sank.
The incident left at least 26 people dead while 41 others survived.
READ: Sunken boat in Binangonan leaves at least 26 dead
John Delos Reyes, one of the survivors, told senators that even though the boat already sailed, Anain went back to shore to get eight more passengers.
He added that Princess Aya was also loaded with sacks of rice, grocery items, a motorcycle and textiles.
Delos Reyes also said the passengers of Princess Aya were not wearing life vests. A video provided by Delos Reyes showed that the life vests were only hanging in the boat.
“Sa tingin ko wala pa yang 50 [na piraso],” Delos Reyes said. “Wala hong coast guard that time. Kung may coast guard that time, pagsusuotin kami ng life vest.”
[Translation: I think the life vests were not more than 50 pieces. The coast guards were not present at that time. If there is a coast guard present, they will hand out our life vests.]
