PCG men in Nirvana sinking snub hearing

ORMOC CITY – The two Philippine Coast Guard personnel who cleared the

MB Kim Nirvana for sailing on July 2 did not show up during a clarificatory hearing called by the city prosecutor’s office here last Friday.

The passenger vessel sunk a few minutes after it left the port here. Sixty-two people died in the incident, while four others were declared missing.

The number of missing persons has been lowered to three, after the hip bone of a certain Angela dela Cruz was found floating near the coast of the city.

Seaman Second Class Fidel Blanco and Apprentice Seaman Jonas Sabado were included in a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide filed against the boat owner, boat captain and the crew of Nirvana.

Acting city assistant prosecutor Erwin Fabriga said the two had also been ordered to file their counter-affidavits 10 days after receipt of the subpoenas.

A few of the complainants attended the hearing.

Senior Police Officer 2 Mark Ruita said some of them told him they were afraid to ride a boat in order to get to the hearing because of the waves spawned by Typhoon Hanna.

Fabriga asked the complainants to clarify allegations that the boat captain took a sudden turn, causing the boat to capsize.

Boat captain Warren Oliverio claimed the huge waves caused the boat to sink.

Asked to explain the overloading, Oliverio said some passengers did not sign the manifest.

The boat’s maximum capacity was 178, excluding the crew. Only 173 passengers were listed in the manifest, but it turned out the boat had more than 200 passengers after 158 were rescued, 63 died and three declared missing.

Boat owner Juge Bong Zarco denied the boat had too much cargo.