MANILA, (PNA) — The Philippine Coast Guard on Friday said that its Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) is now reviewing the report submitted by the Special Board of Marine Inquiry (SBMI) in connection with the August 16 Cebu sea collision.
Lt. Senior Grade Ronald Pancipane, BMI administrative officer, said the SBMI in Cebu has submitted its findings to the PCG headquarters in Manila to be reviewed by the BMI which is chaired by Vice Commandant for Operations Rear Admiral Luis Tuason Jr.
Aside from Tuason, the BMI has for its members a chief engineer, a master mariner, and a legal personality. The SBMI has a same set of members but are not the same persons who comprised the SBMI.
Pancipane said the BMI will review the findings of the SBMI.
He said the BMI is not obliged to rush things up but will finish the review “the soonest possible time.”
After the BMI has reviewed the SBMI report, it will then make recommendations for final review of PCG Commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena.
Isorena may either approve the report, decisions, and recommendations presented; may reject the same; or even order for a re-investigation of the case.
The BMI does not cover the criminal liability of any entity or persons involved in sea accidents. Criminal complaints against concerned persons and/or entities will be heard by the trial courts.
M/V St. Thomas Aquinas 1 sank after it was hit on its starboard side by M/V Sulpicio Express Siete in Lawis Ledge, Talisay City, killing at least 116 passengers and crew of the passenger ship. Twenty-one are still unaccounted for, while 733 have been rescued.