Palawan execs demand action, accountability over deadly ferry fire

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Officials of the provincial government of Palawan have called on the national government to take immediate action following the fire that engulfed MV June Aster last week while the vessel was transiting waters off Coron, Palawan.

During their regular session on Tuesday, members of the provincial board raised concerns over existing maritime safety protocols and regulations, as well as whether adequate precautionary measures are being implemented on vessels transporting passengers and cargo to various parts of the country.

Board Member Roseller Pineda said the tragedy, which claimed 76 lives, must not be taken lightly.

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“Just and fair compensation must be extended without delay to the victims and their families. This is a matter of justice, not charity. Free and facilitated travel must be provided for the survivors and bereaved families to return home,” Pineda said.

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He added: “We call upon the vessel’s operator and the government to deliver this assistance swiftly and transparently. We demand a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure strict accountability so that a tragedy like this will not happen again.”

Board Member Winston Arzaga likewise said those responsible for the tragedy, whether through negligence or violations of safety standards, must be held accountable.

‘Call for truth, justice’

“Let this tragedy not be reduced to condolences alone. Let it be a call for truth, justice, and concrete actions to make our seas and our vessels safer,” Arzaga said.

He said the incident underscores the need for the government to review not only the immediate circumstances surrounding the accident but also the adequacy of regulatory inspection, certification, monitoring, and enforcement systems for all vessels operating in Palawan.

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Due diligence

Arzaga also filed a resolution urging the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to immediately “undertake stringent, comprehensive, and continuing safety inspections and maritime due diligence” of all passenger and cargo vessels plying the Palawan-Manila, Palawan-Iloilo routes, and to strictly enforce all maritime safety standards to prevent a repetition of the tragic loss of lives at sea involving MV June Aster.

The provincial board also invited representatives from the PCG, Marina, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police, Coron local government, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the ferry’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., to an inquiry to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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At the House of Representatives, Pinoy Workers Rep. Karl Legazpi also raised concerns and questions regarding the incident and vowed to push for a congressional inquiry.

‘Wake-up call’

Legazpi pointed to discrepancies in the vessel’s passenger manifest, particularly after authorities determined that some individuals listed on the manifest had apparently not boarded the vessel.

“According to initial reports, the vessel’s manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members. But authorities later had to revise the number of passengers missing after determining that two people whose names appeared on the manifest apparently did not board the vessel,” Legazpi said in a privilege speech on Monday.

“That discrepancy may ultimately have a simple explanation. But if there are names on the manifest of people who apparently did not board the vessel, how can we be sure that the names listed on the manifest are accurate?” he asked.

Legazpi said the tragedy must serve as a “wake-up call” for Congress and maritime agencies to review the country’s maritime safety framework.

The lawmaker also filed House Resolution No. 1443, calling on Congress to investigate the circumstances surrounding the MV June Aster tragedy and determine measures needed to make sea travel safer.

On Monday, MV June Aster’s captain voluntarily appeared before authorities five days after the passenger vessel caught fire on Sept. 9.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said Capt. Roel Sarmiento appeared at the Palawan office of Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., and his presence was subsequently reported to the Emergency Operations Center.

According to the PCG, Sarmiento was accompanied by Dindo Macalinao, human resources general manager of Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc.

Cayabyab said investigators would obtain information from Sarmiento regarding the circumstances surrounding the maritime tragedy, including his whereabouts after the fire and the events leading up to his appearance at the shipping company’s office.

The development came as authorities continued search, recovery, and identification operations following the deadly fire aboard the passenger vessel.

The latest figures showed that authorities had accounted for 44 survivors, including Sarmiento, and 76 fatalities, while 12 people remained missing.

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The vessel’s passenger manifest listed 134 individuals. However, two people listed on the manifest later reported that they had not boarded the vessel, bringing the number of individuals who actually boarded MV June Aster to 132, according to authorities. —WITH A REPORT FROM GABRYELLE DUMALAG INQ