Lawmakers Thursday expressed concern and outrage over the admission by the country’s top maritime officials that the roll on-roll off (RORO) ferry MV Baleno 9, which sank off Verde Island in Batangas last Saturday, was not designated to sail in open sea.

Reps. Joel Villanueva of the Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) and Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza of Agusan del Sur said that such statement from maritime officials was tantamount to admitting their supposed negligence and dereliction of duty.

“From the very beginning, they knew that MV Baleno is only for bay use or inland travel and yet they find ways on their own standards without submitting to world’s norm in allowing it to sail on open sea,” an irate Villanueva said in a text message.

Appearing before a Senate investigation into recent sea mishaps last Tuesday, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo told senators that the ill-fated MV Baleno 9 was not for open sea travel.

Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator Ma. Elena Bautista said that most of the RORO vessels, including MV Baleno 9, are designated for inland water and were only allowed to sail on open seas after passing a certain class standards.

Six persons have been confirmed killed in the sinking of MV Baleno 9 while more than 20 remained missing.

Plaza said maritime agencies should have done better by making sure that all vessels are capable to sail on open sea to ensure their safety.

“We are talking here of human lives and it’s really crazy that for so many years, many traveling Filipinos have been cheating death while boarding on these inland-designated vessels,” Plaza said.

He also asked authorities to disclose the names of survey companies that studied the sea worthiness of the vessels before being given clearance to sail.

“These survey firms have studied the thickness of the metal, state of machines and other vital parts of the ships before acquiring clearance to sail,” said Plaza.