Probe leak of marine officer licensure exam, Congress asked

A ranking official and a board examiner of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) yesterday urged Congress to investigate alleged corruption in the agency.

The appeal was made after five employees of Marina and a training school official were arrested after they allegedly tried to sell the questions and answers in the marine desk officer licensure examination.

“Corruption had been embedded in Marina even during the past administrations. It is about time for lawmakers to investigate these irregularities because the shipping industry will suffer,” a Marina official,

who requested anonymity, told The STAR.

He said officials of Marina down to the security guards were involved in money-making schemes in the agency.

“Money changes hands every time there are transactions. From examinations to approvals of contracts, accreditation of training centers, to the issuance of certificates of proficiency (COP) for seamen – these are sources of corruption,” the official said.

He said an average of 100 examinees in Manila, excluding those from Cebu and Davao, take the exams daily.

The examinees are charged from P30,000 to P35,000 by review centers, he said.

“This is a multimillion-peso business. So if you have the leakage of the exam, all examinees will go to you,” the board of examiner said.

He added that ranking officials of Marina have knowledge of the leakage.

The issuance of certificates of sea service (CSS) is another source of money for alleged corrupt Marina officials, according to the board examiner.

“Only five percent of seamen are able to pass the exams. All the rest will board inter-island vessels and are issued a COP for a hefty price. Those who cannot board interisland vessels are given CSS for P35,000,” he said, adding that there are at least 200 applicants every day.

The board examiner said officials from the Domestic Shipping Division also earn from under gross tonnage registration.

He added that the issuance of seaman’s book has served as a “milking cow” for Marina officials.

“Former Marina administrator Marcial Amaro III was not sacked for his junkets. He was removed because there are lobbyists who are against his reforms,” the sources said.

They said Amaro refused to approve the accreditation of a maritime school owned by an influential businesswoman.

President Duterte has relived Amaro from his post over excessive trips abroad.

Amaro earlier claimed that the five employees were relatives of Marina’s top officials who were allegedly against the reforms he wanted instituted in the agency.

Arrested by the Manila Police District were Julius Maquera, 26, monitoring division evaluator; Christian Asistores, 23, and Malone Morales, 28, both of the surveillance division; information technicians John Daniel Miron, 22, and Teodorico Dionisio, 29, and Jomarie Antiquera, 33, marketing manager of North Star Training Center.

The source said owners of training schools would come out and testify if Congress would initiate a probe.

“It will be a test of political will for senators and congressmen to investigate corruption in the agency because there are a lot of powerful people involved,” the official said.

Asked if he is willing to testify, the Marina official said he would do so “if only to rid the agency of corruption.”