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MANILA: Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said on Wednesday that the owners of a ferry involved in one of the country's worst maritime disasters should be held accountable.
"We are holding the ferry company accountable to ensure that we find how this tragedy could have occurred so we can take steps to make sure it never happens again," Arroyo was quoted by the Daily Inquirer as saying before a business meeting in Washington, where she is on an official visit.
Arroyo's statement came as the coast guard summoned the owners of the doomed Princess of the Stars ferry, which sank in a storm Saturday in the central Philippines while carrying more than 850 passengers and crew.
Arroyo said she would visit storm ravaged areas upon returning from the US on Sunday.
"We will do everything possible to aid in the clean up, provide disaster relief and bring comfort to the families of the victims," she said.
Ferry owner Sulpicio Lines has offered to compensate families of the victims but said the vessel was in good condition when it set sail.
It said the vessel was cleared to sail by maritime authorities, and stressed the accident was caused by the sudden change in the storm's path.
Divers on Wednesday resumed their search for bodies in the hull of the submerged ferry, a day after they said many corpses remained trapped inside. -AFP/jk
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