By Rachel Ganancial
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines — Pinoy Workers Partylist Representative Karl Legazpi pushes for a congressional probe into the fire incident on the MV Aster June ship in Coron, including the investigation into safety regulations implemented.
Legazpi, in his visit to Coron during the inter-agency meeting on Sept. 14, said that immediate release of the result of the investigation is important to identify the cause of the incident. He said he looks forward to speeding up the investigation conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard.
“Gusto ko rin malaman, maimbestigahan ng Kongreso, para na rin sa ating LGU at mga ahensya na kabilang na malaman kung ano ba ang nagkulang,” he said.
Legazpi joined Cabinet Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to identify immediate support needed by survivors as well as families of deceased passengers. The two officials visited survivors at Coron District Hospital and assured them that no hospital bills will be charged to them.
It is important to strengthen security standards after an incident occurs, despite the claim that MV Astra June passed the safety regulations in maritime transportation, Legazpi said.
“Mukhang kulang ‘yong pagpapatupad ng polisiya na ito at parang kaunti rin ang life vest. Bakit gano’n kabilis? Sobrang dami ng nasawi. Nasunog ang mga katawan, ang barko, may pagkakataon naman makapag-evacuate, dapat na-implement ‘yon,” Legazpi added.
Meanwhile, Abalos said the national government will help families identify their deceased relatives through DNA testing. He will send requests for assistance to send over dentists from Camp Crame to extract teeth from cadavers.
As per the Emergency Operations Bulletin, there are 43 rescued individuals, 12 missing, 1 untraced, and 76 fatalities out of 132 persons onboard. A pet dog also died during the incident. About 117 are ticketed passengers, 115 are actual onboard passengers, and 17 are crew members.
The passenger-cargo ferry MV June Aster caught fire on the evening of Sept. 9, Wednesday. (RG/JBG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan/Photo from Pinoy Workers Partylist)
