Why would coast guard approve a ship to sail in the middle of a raging typhoon?

According to Sulpicio Lines representatives, their vessel (MV Princess of Stars) sailed with coast guard approval. When I read this line while reading the news about MV Princess of Stars that capsized in the Philippines few days ago, I couldn’t help but be angry!

First of all, the incompetency of our coast guard! Wasn’t anybody there that fatal day who was qualified enough or had the intellectual ability to determine that the typhoon was too strong for any vessel to take? I bet even those coast guard people wont sail their asses in that typhoon! But they thought it was okay for 800+ people to risk their lives. And they did.

Second, which I think is the most horrible of all, is that Sulpicio Lines owns the MV Princess of Stars! May kakambal bang kalamasan talaga ang kumpanyang ito? Pera lang talaga ang mahalaga sa kanila? Even if the coast guard gave their ship the go signal, they should have made the right decision not to let it sail. Ang bagyo, lakas ng hangin at lakas ng alon ay nakikita ng mga mata di ba? Sakim sa pera at bulag ba ang mga may-ari ng Sulpicio Lines? Palagay ko, pareho!

Justice must be given to those who perished and to their families. I am hoping that House speaker Nograles will see to it that Sulpicio Lines be put out of business. And stricter rules be imposed.

MANILA, Philippines - House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr on Monday called for the cancellation of the franchise of Sulpicio Lines following the tragedy that struck another one of its sea vessels over the weekend.

“This sea tragedy should not have happened if proper precautions and rules were followed. It’s time to cancel franchises or permits and throw the book at those responsible,” Nograles said in a statement.

The House speaker issued the statement as rescuers from the Philippine Coast Guard continue to look for the 700 passengers of the ill-fated MV Princess of Stars, which capsized off the coast of Romblon over the weekend.

Nograles noted that this is the fourth sea tragedy involving Sulpicio-owned vessels, of which the worst was the M/V Doña Paz tragedy in December 1987 where 4,000 passengers were killed.

“It’s really unthinkable that after all these years we have not learned a lesson from the Doña Paz tragedy. Strike three, even in baseball or softball, means you are out. Three or more sea disasters on the same shipping company are no longer a coincidence,” he said.

“Why is Sulpicio, which has the worst sea safety record in the Philippines is still being allowed to operate?” he added.

He said the franchises and licenses of shipping companies like Sulpicio, which he considered as “recidivists in terms of sea disaster records,” should be revoked.

He also called on shipping authorities to “sack public officials whose negligence” resulted in the tragedy.

“Heads should roll if government regulators are found incompetent and negligent of their sworn duties to the public,” he said. - GMANews.TV

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