Suspension of Philippines Coast Guard, MARINA officials after boat capsizes

The Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday has ordered the preventive suspension of Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) officials, according to media reports. The step has come following the Iloilo sea tragedy which left 31 dead. 

Tugade has ordered the suspension of PCG station commanders in Iloilo and Guimaras, as well as the MARINA Regional Director for Western Visayas pending a probe into the incident. 

Three ferry boats capsized on Saturday after huge waves swamped the boats in the central Philippines leaving 31 people dead and five are still missing.

The motorized, wooden-hulled boats were carrying a total of 96 passengers and crew when harsh weather conditions caused the vessels to overturn off the central island of Guimaras and Iloilo provinces on Saturday.

Ships were allowed to sail given Saturday's bad weather, but the Coast Guard had said the Iloilo-Guimaras route is a "special area" and no one expected a squall to hit. None of the boats were reported overloaded and all had life vests.