2 Coast Guard men relieved after Negros sea mishap

Two Philippine Coast Guard personnel were relieved from their posts after a fishing boat capsized off Negros Oriental province last week. Petty Officer 2nd Class Aldwin Chan and Seaman 2 Melquiades Partosa were relieved amid a probe into allegations the fishing boat “Albert" was allowed to leave the port despite being overloaded. Coast Guard Dumaguete chief Lieutenant Commander Agapito Bibat said the two relieved men were both assigned to the Coast Guard Clearing Station in Malatapay town in Negros Oriental, news site Visayan Daily Star reported Saturday. According to the report, at least 29 people were aboard the boat based on the manifest, but it was carrying more than 37 people. The boat, which was headed for Apo Island in Negros Oriental, left Malapatay without life jackets, the report added. The Coast Guard said it will look into whether the boat was indeed overloaded when it left the port. It will look whether the fishing boat was allowed to enter the 15-km territorial waters of any local government area, the Coast Guard also said. Bibat said the Coast Guard will disclose the results of the investigation at the soonest possible time, considering the agency has to coordinate with the Maritime Industry Authority. — JE/LBG, GMA News