MARINA EXECS FACE GRAFT, PLUNDER RAPS

THE United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) on Tuesday filed graft and plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against former and current officials of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for allegedly allowing the illegal operation of 22 foreign dredger ships, mostly Chinese-owned.

Charged were MARINA administrator Sonia B. Malaluan, former administrator Hernani Fabia, former chief-of-staff of the Office of the Administrator Jabeth Dacanay, NCR-MARINA director Marc Pascua, and MARINA-Domestic Shipping Office director Rowena Hubilla.

The five officials are facing charges for grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and Republic Act 7080 (Plunder Law).

In the complaint affidavit filed by engineer Nelson Ramirez, chairman emeritus of the United Filipino Seafarers, he said the respondents violated regulations by favoring foreign companies over local maritime stakeholders.

According to the complaint, the MARINA also allegedly failed to collect the fines and misclassification of the dredgers, which caused losses to the government.

The UFS complaint also emphasized the worrisome issue of the owners and operators of the Chinese dredger amid the existing tension in the West Philippine Sea.

This prompted the group to call for the immediate preventive suspension of the respondents who are currently still in government.

The seafarer’s group also requested the filing of criminal charges against the respondents for violation of RA 3019 and RA 7080.