(Eagle News) — President Aquino has ordered an investigation into the ferry accident in Ormoc, Leyte as the death toll climbed to more than 40.
The Philippine Coast said search and rescue operations still continue as missing in the ferry accident involving MB Kim Nirvana near the port of Ormoc, Leyte was reported at 15.
In a press briefing in Malacañang on Friday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President was updated on the situation on Thursday and his initial concern was to rescue those passengers who might still be alive at sea.
“The President immediately latched on to the fact that there were still a number of people missing and he said, ‘Do whatever we can to send support to be able to augment the search and rescue,'” Valte told reporters.
The President also ordered an investigation, even as search and rescue operations are ongoing, she said.
Investigators must be sent to the site to get eyewitness accounts, all the documents and clearances relative to the vessel, as well as the passenger manifest, Valte quoted the President as saying.
“Nag-utos po ng isang masinsinang pagtingin ang Pangulo doon sa insidente. Gusto po ng Pangulo na una, maging mabilis ang imbestigasyon, so nag-constitute po agad ang Philippine Coast Guard ng maritime casualty investigation team,” she said.
The Coast Guard is working with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to get to the bottom of the situation and the President wants the results of the investigation to be objective, she added.
As to the assistance for the victims and their families, Valte said the Department of Social Welfare and Development normally provides them counseling.
“The local government is also usually on hand to give assistance to the families and siyempre, ang unang-una po dapat ay ‘yung kumpanya na may-ari ng bangka,” she said.
On Friday, the Coast Guard said at least three more bodies have been recovered.
Personnel from the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Ormoc City government and other local government units are helping in the search and rescue mission.
The search and rescue vessel BRP Batangas arrived in the area of the incident on Thursday night (July 2) to assist in the towing of the capsized motorboat for the easy retrieval of fatalities or possible survivors trapped inside the ill-fated vessel.
According to Coast Guard spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo, 134 have so far been rescued from the 197 passengers and crew of the MB Nirvana.
Balilo also explained that weather conditions could not have contributed to the accident.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.