The sea collision involving Ocean Jet 3 last week generated so much interest that a senior citizen who is also a lawyer has come into the open and tipped off local media that two of its top officials including the owner were issued warrants of arrest last December. If not for the information provided by Loon-based lawyer Inccentes “Titing” Lopez, the local media would have been kept in the dark about the case faced by the two fast craft executives. Haled to court for Violation of Section 4 (g) of Republic Act 9257 or the Senior Citizens Act, Victor Lua, one of the owners of Ocean Jet Fast Ferries Corp. and Roneldo Mendez, manager of the local Ocean Jet office here. Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Sisinio Virtutdazo issued the warrants after City Prosecutor II Romeo Chatto found reasonable ground to believe that the two respondents had committed the offense charged.

In the information filed against the two, the prosecutor found probable cause to charge Lua and Mendez for their failure to discount the mandated 20% in boat fare from Tagbilaran City to Cebu city. Lopez said despite his claim and protestations he was still made to pay the full amount of the fare. Under the Senior Citizens Act, card bearing senior citizens issued by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSWD) are entitled to a 20% discount for every purchase of goods and services. Under the law, those with ages 60 above are considered senior citizens. Upon receipt of the warrant which issued last December, the two accused posted bail at P4,000 each.

Meanwhile, an update of the recent collision incident between Ocean Jet 3 and ASC Valerie barge showed per initial accident report that the acciden injured44 passengers and not 24 as earlier reported. The same report rendered by Glenn Cabanez, regional director of the Maritime Industry Authority also indicated what courses of action the office has undertaken as a result of the sea accident. As a consequence, the MARINA suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate of MV Ocean Jet 3 and the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate of the barge ASC Valerie.