By Roy Ramos
ZAMBOANGA
Charges have been readied against two Philippine Coast Guard personnel and the skipper of a boat that sank off the central Philippines city of Ormoc July 2, leaving 63 of those on board dead.
GMA News reported Thursday that reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide will soon be filed against the two Coast Guard men and the skipper of M/B Kim Nirvana which sank off Ormoc City in the central Philippines July 2.
Based on a resolution issued Wednesday by Investigating Prosecutor Erwin James Fabriga, two Philippine Coast Guard clearing officers and the skipper of M/B Nirvana will be included in the charge sheet.
Bail for the temporary liberty of the three men was set at P10,000 ($214) each, the report said.
Joge Bong Zarco, owner of the M/B Nirvana B, and the vessel's 17 crew members, on the other hand, were ordered released.
The boat was carrying 178 passengers and 16 crew members and cargo of rice, cement and fertilizer when it sank some 100 meters off the Ormoc port.
Six of the fatalities were children.
It capsized after making a sharp turn while leaving the port.
Sea mishaps are common occurence in the Philippines archipelago, where many boats and ferries transport sea commuters and cargo from one island to another.
