Press Release
June 23, 2008

RESCUE FIRST, THEN PROBE -REVILLA ON SEA ACCIDENT

I will initiate a Senate probe on the sinking of the Sulpicio Lines - owned M/V Princess of the Stars after the completion of the rescue operations for the survivors. First things first, we must focus right now on the rescue operations and also on the relief operations in the areas devastated by the typhoon Frank. After that, we shall determine culpability on the sea tragedy.

I will file a resolution in order to quiz the officials of the Philippine Coast Guard and Sulpicio Lines, including its owner, regarding the circumstances that led the ship to carry on its voyage despite the threat of the typhoon. Sulpicio Lines has already four major ship accidents including the world's worst peacetime sea tragedy, the colliding of its M/V Doña Paz with an oil tanker on December 20, 1987 that claimed more than 4,000 lives. I had a personal experience in search and rescue operations during Sulpicio's M/V Princess of the Orient tragedy almost ten years ago.

Hindi na ito bago, paulit-ulit na lang. Dapat makagawa tayo ng hakbang para maiwasan na ito. Hanapin natin ang butas sa batas na nakakapagkunsinte sa mga ganitong pangyayari.

News Latest News Feed