Metro Manila, Philippines – Officials of a shipping company will face criminal charges for failure to ensure passenger safety on a ferry that caught fire off Coron, Palawan, in September that killed more than 70 people, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said Friday, Oct. 16.
In a Malacañang press briefing, Wilberto Kwan Tiu, officer-in-charge chief of the BFP, said cases of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide will be filed against the captain, chief mate, two able-bodied seamen, second chief mate, and safety officer of MV June Aster.
The agency said the president and CEO and operations manager of ship owner Atienza Interisland Ferries, Inc. will also be sued, as well as the operations manager and supervisor of Mega Lifters Cargo Handling Corporation.
It said the logistics company is liable for transferring cargo containing blocks of asphalt and a large quantity of calcium hypochlorite—commonly used for swimming pool sanitization—from the port to the vessel. It is classified as a dangerous cargo as it presents significant fire and chemical hazards under certain conditions, particularly when on board a passenger vessel.
Kwan Tiu said liable government employees will also face sanctions for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Del Pan substation cleared “June Aster” for sail, despite initially reported engine performance issues.
“If we found out that there are government employees … na hindi nagampanan yung kanilang trabaho na tingnan nang maigi bago naglayag yung barko, ay kasama po sila sa kakasuhan natin,” Kwan Tiu said.
[Translation: If we found out that there are government employees … who failed to fulfill their duties to closely check the vessel before its departure, they will also be charged.]
The latest official report stated that 77 were dead, 43 survived, most with burn injuries, while eight others remain unaccounted for out of the 128 total people in the passenger manifest.
