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DOTC warns Aboitiz vs selling SuperFerry tickets


With a suspension order in effect on its fleet following Sunday’s SuperFerry 9 tragedy, Aboitiz Transport Systems was warned Wednesday against continuing to sell tickets. Transportation Undersecretary Thompson Lantion said the suspension on selling tickets is part of the show-cause order served by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) on ATS. "Nasa show cause order, kasama sa pagsuspindi. So sa management, dapat gawin nilang hakbangin wala nang pamimigay o pamamahagi ng ticket (It is included in the show cause order. So it is up to management to stop selling tickets for its SuperFerry fleet)," Lantion said in an interview on dzBB radio. Lantion said it is up to ATS management to refund the tickets already bought for trips that may be affected by the suspension. On Tuesday, Marina served a show cause order suspending ATS’ operations following the tilting and subsequent sinking of SuperFerry 9 off Zamboanga Peninsula last Sunday. At least 10 people had died in the incident, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)’s report as of 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Lantion said there is no timetable for the suspension, which he said will be in effect while the investigation into Sunday’s incident is ongoing. "Magkakaroon ng pagdinig yan, simula sa Sept. 15. Patuloy yan hanggang matapos ang requirements na kailangan gampanan upang muli silang bigyan ng pahintulot [na mag-operate]. Pansamantala until further notice ang show cause order," he said. (There will be a hearing that will start Sept. 15. That will continue until ATS complies with the requirements that will come out after the investigation. The show cause order will be in effect until further notice.) Lantion said that during the suspension, ATS’ ships may have to undergo dry dock, maintenance, and inspection. Motion for reconsideration Lantion, however, said ATS has filed a motion for reconsideration after it received the notice of suspension. ATS pointed its SuperFerry 1 was still bringing 63 survivors from Iloilo to Manila, while SuperFerry 12 is coming from Cebu and SuperFerry 19 is coming from Davao. But Lantion said that once these three vessels reach their home port, they will not be allowed to travel. He added they will not be allowed to carry paying passengers while en route to their home ports. Meanwhile, the Public Attorney’s Office said it is ready to help the survivors and the kin of fatalities in the tragedy. Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported that PAO head Persida Acosta advised victims and their kin to lodge complaints against ATS before the PAO office in Quezon City. Acosta said their lawyers are ready to assist the victims in getting compensation from ATS. - GMANews.TV
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