THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) has filed complaints against four crewmembers of the cargo vessel, MV Happy Hiro, following their collision with a Filipino fishing boat in waters off Agutaya, Palawan on Saturday.
In a virtual press conference on Wednesday, PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said the complaints were filed before the Antique Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday and included the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple injuries, and damage to property.
“Apat yung sinama natin doon sa charges -- yung kapitan, second mate, at dalawang officers (We included four individuals in the charges -- the captain, second mate, and two officers),” Abu said.
These include Meshay Amir, the MV Happy Hiro’s Croatian crew master; Romanian second mate Bogdan George; Filipino officer Tyrone Maquiling, and another Filipino officer Mckinley Amante.
After MV Happy Hiro’s collision with Filipino fishing vessel FB JOT-18 on Saturday, 13 out of 20 of the fishing boat’s crew were rescued, with seven still missing.
He said the missing fishers are not presumed dead and search and retrieval operations continue.
Based on their investigation, he said MV Happy Hiro hit FB JOT-18 while it was anchored after experiencing engine failure.
He added that Marshall Islands-flagged MV Happy Hiro will not be allowed to leave the country and may be detained following the decision of the court.
On the other hand, FB JOT-18 was found to have committed violations and may face fines based on the enforcement inspection apprehension report made by PCG Station Antique on the fishing vessel.
Its violations include ‘leaving port without PCG clearance’ (PCG MC No. 07-12) with a penalty of PHP10,000 and ‘Master’s failure to accomplish Master Declaration of Safe Departure’ with a penalty of PHP50,000. ( Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)
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