Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday gave the Philippine Coast Guard 15 days to complete its investigation report on a ferry's capsizal at the height of typhoon Fengshen.
President Arroyo issued the deadline in a speech delivered after her recent visit to the United States, Philippine TV network GMA News reported.
In her speech, the president also said she wants a "full accounting" by the Coast Guard of the circumstances that led to the capsizing of the M/V Princess of the Stars off the country's central province of Romblon.
President Arroyo had earlier tasked the Coast Guard to find out who should be held responsible for allowing the ill-fated ship to leave port.
There were 751 passengers and 111 crew members on board when the tragedy happened on June 21, according to a statement by Sulpicio Lines Inc., owner of the M/V Princess of the Stars. As of now, no more than 60 survivors have been confirmed rescued. More than 140 bodies have been recovered while hundreds remain missing.
Earlier on Tuesday, Vice President Noli de Castro said authorities are now looking into reports that the captain of the capsized ferry is alive and is presently in hiding to possibly avoid scrutiny into the sea mishap.
In a radio interview, De Castro cited information indicating ship owner Sulpicio Lines Inc. is keeping captain Florencio Marimon Sr and at least one of the survivors in a safe house.
Sulpicio Lines has filed a suit against the Philippines' weather agency, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), blaming it for inaccurate weather forecast of typhoon Fengshen allegedly leading to the ferry's capsizal.
The company said Pagasa had reported that the typhoon was supposed to hover over the Bicol region but the typhoon suddenly changed course and hit Romblon and nearby provinces.
Meanwhile, Pagasa said it was not bothered by the suit despite admitting it may have committed errors in its weather forecasts.
Pagasa chief Prisco Nilo maintained that deviations of a typhoon's movement from the agency's forecasted location remains within the international standard, adding that weather forecastingis not an exact science.
Source:Xinhua
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