Dole suspends operations of 6 vessels of MV June Aster firm

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has indefinitely suspended the operations of six vessels of Atienza Interisland Ferries after the Sept. 9 fire that gutted one of its passenger-cargo vessels, the MV June Aster, off the coast of Coron, Palawan.

Based on the documents shared to media, the work stoppage order (WSO) dated Oct. 12 was issued to MV Star San Carlos, MV September Tulips, MV December Poinsettia, MV October Lavender, MV May Lilies and MV November Cattleya. Dole officials had inspected these vessels on Oct. 10.

“Work stoppage order was issued to six ships currently anchored in Navotas. So the work for Atienza Shipping Lines has been suspended,” Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino told reporters on Monday.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Palawan execs demand action, accountability over deadly ferry fire

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

The Bureau of Fire Protection said earlier that 63 of the 77 people killed in the fire have been identified while eight people remain missing. The passenger-cargo ship had 128 passengers and crew members on board, and 43 of them survived.

Charges vs skipper

Dole also instructed the company to pay the wages of all affected employees “during the period covered by this WSO, the issuance of this Order having resulted from violations attributable to the employer.”

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) earlier filed a complaint of alleged falsification of public documents against June Aster Capt. Roel Sarmiento.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab told the Inquirer last month that Sarmiento was found liable for discrepancies in the Master’s Declaration of Safe Departure (MDSD), which contained the vessel’s passenger and crew manifest.

Article continues after this advertisement

According to Cayabyab, the MDSD declared that the vessel complied with safety regulations, and had the proper placement of cargo and the correct number of passengers and crew members.

She said the PCG initially tallied 134 occupants. “This means six passengers listed in the ticket manifest did not board the vessel. That is what we are looking into—the six passengers listed in the initial manifest who did not board,” Cayabyab said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Some passengers listed in the manifest reportedly failed to arrive or decided to take other means of transportation before the June Aster left Baseco Port in Manila on the night of Sept. 9. —Reports from Dianne Sampang and Geraldford Ticke