Ramos attacks ship neglecters

Ramos attacks ship neglecters

MANILA (AFP): President Fidel Ramos called on the judiciary
and regulatory agencies yesterday to punish the "neglect and the
greed" behind three disasters involving domestic shipping which
left 22 people dead in the Philippines last week.

Ramos, in a speech to coast guard personnel, called the
sinkings Friday of a tourist boat on Manila Bay, an inter-island
ferry in the country's east and a small boat in the central
Philippines "tragic but avoidable disasters."

The accidents underlined "the need to stop, prevent and punish
the neglect and the greed that lead to the unnecessary loss of
lives, property and international goodwill arising out of such
maritime calamities," he said.