Deadly ship fire culprits must pay
HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez wants someone to be held accountable for MV Lady Mary Joy 3 tragedy that resulted in the death of 31 people and the disappearance of two others in the waters of Baluk-baluk Island in Basilan recently.
Speaker Romualdez also urged the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to find out the cause of the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 fire.
Romualdez said the MARINA and PCG should have learned from past tragedies in marine vessels, especially due to overloading.
“Have we not learned anything? What is MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard doing now? Those who have been negligent should be held accountable for this accident because it could have been avoided if only they did their jobs,” the House Speaker said.
According to Romualdez, it was Mayor Arsina Kahing-Nanoh of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan who said that the authorities had difficulties in the rescue operation due to the inaccuracy of the passenger manifest.
According to Romualdez, based on the 195 rescued and the number of casualties at 29, it does not match the PCG’s record of 205 passengers only.
He said the investigation into the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars in 2008, where eight hundred people lost their lives, is still clear in his memory, which paved the way for the enactment of the Maritime Code.
The lawmaker from Leyte said that someone should be held accountable for the incident and stop the sailing of other ships of the said shipping line.
