League of Filipino Students Iloilo City

Best education comes from the streets, picket lines —La Viña Governance and legal expert Tony La Viña on Thursday said he continues to encourage his students to attend rallies and be active in protests, and that he has done so for the last 38 years. Current top breaking Philippine headlines regarding the nation, world, metro manila, regions and exclusi...

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BAYAN Panay and its sectoral members are enjoining all Ilonggos and fellow Panayanons to a food relief assistance drive for the crews of motorbancas (and their families) who lost their livelihood after MARINA grounded their vessels on August 5 after the Iloilo Strait tragedy last August 3.

Around 108 motorbancas were suspended or about 500 families affected by the suspension order.

In coordination with other sectors and groups, donation boxes will be set up in various schools, churches and offices around Iloilo City over the weekend for your donations.

Or you may drop your donations directly to our office at Door 2, Jardeleza Apt., Cuartero St., Jaro, Iloilo City, fronting Jaro 1 Elementary School.

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TRAGEDY AND ACCOUNTABILITY: CRIMINAL NEGLECT AND INCOMPETENCE OF PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ON THE ILOILO STRAIT TRAGEDY
Panay Today Special Report on the August 3 Iloilo Strait Tragedy

ILOILO City – In the afternoon of August 3, 2019, 31 lives have been lost to accidents in Iloilo Strait. The tragedy occurred when three passenger vessels plying Guimaras to Iloilo were struck by squall and big waves generated by strong monsoon winds and heavy rains that capsized the three motorbancas.

Testimonies from survivors pointed at the Philippine Coast Guard’s inadequate and inept rescue operations and gross negligence for allowing the third vessel to navigate despite the first accident that occurred at noontime.

Government agencies' responses were also limited while people are clamoring for food and transportation assistance. More than a hundred motorbancas were now suspended with hundreds of families losing their source of livelihood.

Weather conditions

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued at 5am of Saturday, August 3, a Gale Warning #9 for strong to gale force winds associated with the Southwest monsoon.

The areas expected to be affected were located at the Western Seaboard of Luzon namely La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Northern Palawan.

Likewise, in the page of DOST_PAGASA, Regional Weather Forecast which was valid from 6:00 AM of August 3 until 6:00 AM of August 4 revealed that a “low-pressure area was estimated at 1,135km East of Virac, Catanduanes (14.6N, 134.7E) and the Southwest Monsoon is affecting the western section of Luzon.” It also added that “light to moderate winds blowing from the Southwest to West will prevail over the Visayas with slight to moderate seas.”

Particularly in Iloilo and Guimaras, the weather and sea condition were described as “cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms with wind speed of 30-50kph from Southwest to West. Coastal waters are moderate to rough with a height ranging from 1.25m to 3.25m. Temperature is from 25 to 31 degrees Celsius.”

The tragedy on August 3

The first tragedy on August 3 happened around 12:15 noontime when two motorbancas MB Chi-chi and MB Keziah 2 were reportedly hit by squall causing them to capsize. The two motorbancas came from Parola Wharf in Iloilo City and were both heading towards Jordan Wharf in Guimaras.

Based on the manifesto, MB Chi-chi was onboard with 46 passengers including its crew members. Meanwhile, MB Keziah 2 only had five crew members on board.

After the incident, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issued an order to temporarily stop the trips from Iloilo to Guimaras and vice versa. But around 3 pm of the same day, according to one of the survivors, the PCG allowed their passenger vessel, MB Jenny Vince, to travel.

As a result, at 3:30 pm, MB Jenny Vince traveling from Buenavista Wharf going to Parola Wharf capsized when it was reportedly hit by a squall as well.

Around 5:30 pm, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas suspended all trips from Iloilo City to Guimaras.

Casualties and survivors

On the evening of August 6, the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office through its page released its consolidated data on the number of casualties and survivors following the incidents.

According to the ICDRRMO, there were a total of 83 passengers and 13 crews onboard the three motorbancas. Out of the 96 individuals, 52 passengers and all 13 crews survived. The remaining 31 passengers were declared dead.

Government response

Following the suspension of trips in the afternoon of August 3, Mayor Treñas immediately called the city government to a meeting and activated the Response Cluster and Local Management Team. Iloilo City Police Office Director PCol. Martin Defensor Jr. was tasked to head as incident commander.

The provincial government of Guimaras together with its local government units from Jordan, Nueva Valencia, Buenavista and Sibunag also held its meeting while other government agencies also held their own.

Search and rescue operations

The search and rescue operations were immediately done mainly by survivors and crews, and operators of other passenger vessels.

According to the town Mayors of Jordan and Buenavista in a radio interview, there was no ground commander during the rescue operations and the PCG only entered the rescue scene two hours after the first incident and came without rescue equipment.

According to Jordan Mayor Ruben Corpuz, the PCG did not establish a chain of responsibility during the operations. He added that while they were busy coordinating with the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the PCG was nowhere to be found.

Mayor Corpuz also added that he momentarily saw PCG-Western Visayas district commander Commodore Allan Victor Dela Vega tending the survivors being brought to Parola Wharf but suddenly disappeared.

For Buenavista Mayor Eugene Reyes, the PCG seemed to act without clear protocols and a sense of urgency. He considered it a blunder for the PCG’s apparent neglect.

Narratives of survivors

A crew of MB Eleine May narrated to his son how they responded and rescued two children from MB Chi-chi:

“After we saw the incident, we directly head towards MB Chi-chi and tied its rear part to the head of our vessel. The captain was unconscious when we got him and we heard children shouting for help from the inside. We bore a hole and took the two children. The PCG said they rescued many but it was only us which aided MB Chi-chi. The PCG did nothing to help us.”

According to a passenger from another motorbanca, their crews were the first to respond and rescue the passengers of MB Jenny Vince. They used an ax to pe*****te the capsized boat as they heard other passengers knocking for help from the inside. But their equipment barely scratched the vessel and it was hard for them to maneuver because of strong waves. The passengers then called the attention of the PCG but the PCG did not take any action even until the next morning.

A testimony of one of the survivor-passengers of MB Jenny Vince said that it took one hour before they were rescued. Their capsized passenger vessel was even washed ashore the Jordan wharf while they were trapped inside. If it not had been for one of their co-passengers who fired a warning shot, they would not have survived. They later learned that many large vessels, presumably owned by the PCG, were nearby but did nothing to rescue them. The survivor is now recuperating in a hospital.

“Masakit isipon. Nga-a ging tulok lang sang taga Coast Guard ang sakayan? Bal-an nila may tawo pa didto na trap sa sulod. (It hurts. Why did the Coast Guard personnel just stare at the boat? They knew people were still trapped inside),” said survivor Rocill Garcia Responso in an interview with the Manila Bulletin.

"Kay ang crew pa namon ang nag bira bira pang rescue..kag pang wasay sang pumpboat para lang makoot ang mga tao sa sulod. (It was our boat's crew who axed the capsized boat so we could get out),” said survivor Maria Juanico on Facebook.

Blame-shaming the poor

While accounts from victims and rescuers pointed to the negligence and culpability of the PCG, Commodore Dela Vega was quick to blame the victims and said, “it is time to review the design of the pump boats and if proven to be vulnerable to the elements, the boats must be phased out .”

This statement from Dela Vega is a glaring reflection of how the PCG acted and responded to the incidents, by blaming the victims instead of helping them. Dela Vega only exposed himself as the culprit for not performing the central tasks of the PCG in cases such as this – that they are “mandated and responsible to perform maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, marine environmental protection and maritime security.”

The crews and operators proved that they can follow orders upon instructions from the PCG. It was the PCG that made the wrong call for allowing the third vessel to travel.

The PCG has to be blamed for criminal neglect by allowing the travel of MB Jenny Vince and for not performing its tasks and mandate in the conduct of search and rescue operations.

This is not the first time that PCG was put in hot waters for negligence.

Last October 18, 2015, the passenger motorboat Tawash capsized because of a squall. Nine lives were lost in the incident. Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog criticized the PCG for allowing the motorboat to travel despite imminent strong winds and big waves.

Promised assistance

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said that they will provide assistance of Php200,000 to families of those who died and Php50,000 to those who were hospitalized after the tragedy.

They clarified however that only those in the list of passenger manifesto will be given assistance.

The Iloilo City government used its emergency fund to provide immediate assistance to the families of 19 casualties and 18 survivors on August 6.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 and the Office of the Civil Defense both promised to provide Php20,000 to the burial processing of the fatalities.

Livelihood collapse

On August 5, MARINA suspended the operations of 108 motorbancas crisscrossing the Iloilo Strait. Today, Engr. Roel Pador, senior shipping specialist of MARINA in Western Visayas said, “the agency had long ordered the phase-out of wooden-hulled passenger sea vessels .”

MARINA issued Circular 2016-02 Series of 2016 that pushed for the modernization of sea vessels.

As a result, with an average of 4-5 crews per vessel and their operators, about 500 individuals and their families have lost their livelihood.

But these motorbancas and their operators are not to be blamed for being “unseaworthy”. For years, they complied with safety and security measures prescribed by government agencies including the mandatory lifejacket provision.

These motorbancas can cross the Iloilo Strait without problems during calm weather and even during rainy periods hence they are safe to travel just like any other passenger motorbancas throughout the country.

Following the incident, only RORO vessels charging Php35.00 per passenger and other large private vessels approved by MARINA were allowed to cross the Iloilo Strait. For the passengers of RORO vessels, this will translate to an additional minimum fare of Php70.00. This will increase to about Php110.00 if a passenger is coming from Buenavista town.

Other private vessels will be charging as much as Php100.00 for regular passengers, Php80.00 for students, Php71.00 for senior citizens, and Php50.00 for minors.

If only the government has provided their needs, if MARINA saw it fit to upgrade their motorbancas, the loss of livelihood of hundreds of poor families could have been prevented and additional expenses halted./www.panaytoday.net

Photo: Rescuers race with time to save passengers trapped inside the capsized MB Jenny Vince in the afternoon of August 3. Used with permission from Ian Paul Cordero.

More stories here: http://www.panaytoday.net/2019/08/07/tragedy-and-accountability-criminal-neglect-and-incompetence-of-philippine-government-agencies-on-the-iloilo-strait-tragedy/

BREAKING:
COMELEC en banc cancels Ronald Cardema's bid to represent Duterte Youth partylist.

(Report to follow)

Photo from petitioners lawyer Christian Lora.

BREAKING: 11 were confirmed dead as of 7:30PM tonight and 18 were missing after three passenger motorbancas MV Keziah, MV Jenny Vince, and MV Chichi capsized at the Iloilo Strait earlier today.

(Developing)

LOOK: Archbishop of Jaro, Most Rev. Jose Romeo Lazo's statement and appeal for immediate action to address the killings in Negros.

(From the Jaro Archdiocese Commission on Social Communications)

NOW: Sonny Talibo, President of the Federation of Iloilo Farmers Association (FIFA) address to farmers announcing the success of the week-long Kampuhan at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol as they were able to express and gain public support on the issues and demands for rice and seeds subsidy. The farmers gathered outstanding public support ranging from financial, material and moral support.

Negotiations with the provincial government will continue as Capitol officials remain indecisive on filing resolutions for the victims of El Niño in the province.

"It will be another long wait for us. We will continue our demands and stand united in this fight."
-Talibo

Sta Catalina man and child bring death toll to 7 in bloody day for Negros Oriental

Just hours after an angry San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza ordered church bells rung to protest the wave of violence sweeping Negros Oriental, a man and his child were shot dead in Sta. Catalina town, the sixth and seventh fatalities in a particularly bloody day for the province.

The Sta. Catalina police said Barangay San Jose kagawad Ramonito Nuique reported that Marlon Ocampo and his Marjon child had been shot dead in Sitio Tara around 8 p.m.

Ocampo's wife was wounded.

Meanwhile, the composite police and army team that retrieved the bodies of the Ocampos on Friday morning. July 26, was harassed by at least six gunmen believed to be New People's Army fighters.

A police report said the team, led by Sta. Catalina police chief Captain Michael Rubia was heading back to town with the bodies when they were fired on aroind 10 a.m.

Thursday started with the murder of educator siblings Arthur and Aldane Bayawa by gunmen who stormed their home just before 1 a.m. and, less than an hour, of Buenavista barangay captain Romeo Alipan, who was slain in a similar manner.

As the day progressed, gunmen also killed Raklin Astorias in Siaton town and Reden Eleuterio in Ayungon, where the new wave of bloodletting began with the July 18 ambush of four policemen by communist rebels.

The first five deaths prompted Alminaza to "exhort our parishes, mission stations and religious houses to ring our church bells every 8PM starting this July 28, 2019 (Sunday) until the killings stop."

Just two days earlier, following the assassination of lawyer Anthony Trinidad in Guihulngan, the bishop issued a pastoral letter appealing for n end to violence.

He also called a meeting of clergy and lay leaders to discuss how they could help stem the bloodshed.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2305076529590366&id=2017511631680192

Sta Catalina man and child bring death toll to 7 in bloody day for Negros Oriental

Just hours after an angry San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza ordered church bells rung to protest the wave of violence sweeping Negros Oriental, a man and his child were shot dead in Sta. Catalina town, the sixth and seventh fatalities in a particularly bloody day for the province.

The Sta. Catalina police said Barangay San Jose kagawad Ramonito Nuique reported that Marlon Ocampo and his Marjon child had been shot dead in Sitio Tara around 8 p.m.

Ocampo's wife was wounded.

Meanwhile, the composite police and army team that retrieved the bodies of the Ocampos on Friday morning. July 26, was harassed by at least six gunmen believed to be New People's Army fighters.

A police report said the team, led by Sta. Catalina police chief Captain Michael Rubia was heading back to town with the bodies when they were fired on aroind 10 a.m.

Thursday started with the murder of educator siblings Arthur and Aldane Bayawa by gunmen who stormed their home just before 1 a.m. and, less than an hour, of Buenavista barangay captain Romeo Alipan, who was slain in a similar manner.

As the day progressed, gunmen also killed Raklin Astorias in Siaton town and Reden Eleuterio in Ayungon, where the new wave of bloodletting began with the July 18 ambush of four policemen by communist rebels.

The first five deaths prompted Alminaza to "exhort our parishes, mission stations and religious houses to ring our church bells every 8PM starting this July 28, 2019 (Sunday) until the killings stop."

Just two days earlier, following the assassination of lawyer Anthony Trinidad in Guihulngan, the bishop issued a pastoral letter appealing for n end to violence.

He also called a meeting of clergy and lay leaders to discuss how they could help stem the bloodshed.

JUST IN: 'EYE-SORE, PERWISYO'

This is how Iloilo City Police Office PSUPT Romulo Z. Flores II described the farmers who are presently staging a week-long campout in front of Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
The leaders of the protesting farmers went to ICPO this morning for a dialogue but Flores threathened to disperse the farmers.

The farmers are victims of El Niño who have been seeking food and seed subsidy from government agencies since April.

Photo from PANAYsayon.

We are looking for Volunteer photographers, Videographers, and Video Editors to help us for the coverage of the United People's SONA and the 5-day kampuhan of Panay farmers on July 22-26! Contribute a portion of your talent by capturing the real state of the people ;) PM is the key.

“We hate to see a government that is too weak to defend the rights and sovereignty of its people. The current foreign policy of the Duterte administration is ‘China above everything else,” said Rev. Dr. Jerson Narciso, general secretary of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches.

“We need to send China a message. They cannot just bully us into subservience. Why can’t we defend our territory just like Vietnam and Indonesia did?” Rev. Dr. Narciso added.

More: http://www.panaytoday.net/2019/07/19/ilonggos-unite-for-united-peoples-sona-2019/

HANDA NA* - Panay Today Sakal sa kahirapan at magang-maga sa pamamaslang…Duterte bansa ay ginawa mong pugad ng kahalimawan! Mga lansangan sa kalunsuran ay naging gubat ng pasismo…habang ang kanayunan hinalugada’t ginalugad mo ng terorismo! Soberanya din ay isinubo mo sa bunganga ng mga diyos-diyusan mong mga among da...

ICMYI

US IS NOT A FRIEND - Youth groups - Panay Today ILOILO City – Anakbayan Panay together with various youth and sectoral formations conducted a picket last July 4, to condemn the continuing subservience of the Philippine government to the imperialist US in time of the 73rd Filipino-American Friendship Day. “There is no such thing as friendship ...

ILOILO WORKERS SEEK SALARY INCREASE AHEAD OF DUTERTE'S SONA - Panay Today ILOILO CITY – Government employees, teachers and militant group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Panay protested at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) regional office 6 on Friday and called for ‘substantial and adequate’ salary increase. The teachers and government employees belong to All Wo...

BAYAN warns against police disinformation as SONA approaches Bayan said the Philippine National Police have warned participants not to bring jackets and backpacks during the rally as a security precaution.

ILOILO FARMERS AFFECTED BY EL NIÑO FEEL NEGLECTED, STAGE 3-DAY PROTEST FOR RICE AND SEEDS SUBSIDY - Panay Today ILOILO City – “Rice subsidy, not jetmatic pump! Seeds, not liquid fertilizer!” These are the loud cries of farmers from the Federation of Iloilo Farmers Associations (FIFA) in their 3-day protest held in front of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol last July 10-12. The series of protests erupted aft...

Comelec Chair: Cardema can’t assume post as Duterte Youth solon yet The seat of Duterte Youth party-list in the House of Representatives may be vacant when the 18th Congress starts on July 22.

ADMIN ALLIES SQUABBLE OVER SPEAKERSHIP AS DUTERTE COALITION BECOMES MORE 'UNSTABLE', 'FRACTIOUS' - SOLON - Panay Today MANILA – Duterte’s coalition in the House of Representavies has gone ‘unstable’ and ‘fractious’ according to Bayan Muna party list representative Karlos Isagani Zarate as congress mulls a speakership race this month. Seven representatives have expressed intent to become the House Speaker...

Hey, hey, hey mga pag-asa ng bayan!

Kabataan Partylist - Panay along with Anakbayan - Panay and National Union of Students of the Philippines - Panay presents to you “Konsultahang Kabataan 2019” this July 12, 2019 at Iloilo City Diamond Jubilee Hall, 1-5PM.

Hand-in-hand, let us amplify our voices and create a significant impact to our fellow students and fellow Filipinos.

Sama-sama nating isulong ang Agenda ng Kabataan sa ating pagkakaroon ng mga diskusyon at diyalogo kasama ang estudyante at kabataan mula sa iba’t-ibang konseho at organisasyon.

Manindigan. Makiisa. Makilahok.

📍 Iloilo City Diamond Jubilee Hall is located along Mabini Street, across Iloilo City Elementary School.

Read the primer here: https://drive.google.com/a/up.edu.ph/file/d/1rcDUx63s2iqu5Zg_oWm3f-UoBkiSwJSL/view?usp=drivesdk