Fire Pasacao Coast Guards, Mayor Asks

PASACAO CAMARINES SUR (June 4 2011) – The municipal mayor of Pasacao, Asuncion Villamente-Arcenio (AVA), is demanding the immediate relief of coast guard personnel town who are hard put to explain the circumstances of a cargo vessel explosion that took place in a private port in this town last Wednesday night.

Mayor Arcenio complains that the coast guard personnel in her town cannot even give a complete report of the incident.

At around 10:30 pm Wednesday, June 1, a huge explosion rocked the port area of Pasacao. It involved M/V STC Jeffrey Roy, a cargo vessel that was leaving for Romblon province with 150 drums and 20 containers of gasoline cargo bought from the oil depot here.

It was earlier reported that the fire started inside the vessel while its engine was being started. Also, the vessel would have sailed with flammable cargo without first securing clearances from the Coast Guard, MARINA and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

According to Mayor Arcenio, immediately after the explosion of the cargo vessel she hurriedly proceeded to the area and to her dismay there was no coast guard personnel present in area.

Seriously injured are Nathan Balbona, the boat captain, and two crewmen who are still in the Intensive care unit. Less seriously injuries were sustained by Jobert Rivas, Jamiro Rivas, Dennis Rivas, Erasmo Rosero, Loreto Mangarin, Jenson Roy Rina, Winnie Rada and a certain Jetman.

All victims are now confined at the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) in Naga City.