MANILA, Philippines -- Opposition Senator Pia Cayetano called for an immediate Senate inquiry into the death of Filipino worker Raldon Del Rosario at the Hanjin shipyard in Subic, Zambales on Friday.

Del Rosario, 19, became the 17th worker to die from work and traffic related incidents at the shipyard since 2006.

Del Rosario died after an 800-kilogram metal door at a section of the shipyard fell on him. His companion, Boichek Camalao, 24, suffered fractures in the leg.

The door was installed by Great Steel Construction, 60 percent of which is owned by Filipinos and 40 by Koreans.

The non-government People's Task Force Hanjin has recorded over 40 deaths among the workers, including those who died from malaria.

Cayetano, who used to chair the Senate environment and natural resources committee that investigated environmental abuses in Subic, blamed the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Department of Labor and Employment for the rising death toll in the shipyard.

"It's exasperating how our authorities have allowed these deaths to continue without imposing stringent measures and taking legal action against all those responsible," the senator said in a statement.

She called for a full-blown inquiry into the rising death toll, including the plan to cut 366 trees for a Korean-owned casino and hotel complex inside the forested area of the former American military base, now a free port zone.

"The Senate probe stands as our last chance for an independent inquiry. But I hope the Senate will not be bullied by the Korean ambassador from proceeding with its planned investigation on the deaths in Hanjin," said Cayetano.

In a privilege speech delivered last Wednesday, the senator accused Korean Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung of trying to bully the Senate by warning the chamber of "substantial and negative repercussions" if it proceeded with the investigation.

Cayetano told her colleagues that Choi?s concerns were ?regrettable and misplaced.?

Cayetano said the letter of the Korean ambassador dated December 23, 2008, which was addressed to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, was an ?interference into the chamber's authority to conduct legislative inquiries.?

"Are we now to be told by a representative of a foreign country what we should and should not inquire into as a national law-making body, and even be threatened by 'deep and far reaching effects within and beyond the boundaries of the Philippines?'" Cayetano asked in her January 21 speech.

"Is it not within our legislative power and function to ensure that sufficient laws are in place and complied with to protect our people and our environment from abuses?? she asked. ?Is it not our duty, as lawmakers of the land, to look into violations and put in place measures to exact compliance?"

?Laws aimed at protecting our people and our natural resources must be strictly complied with by all, whether Filipino or foreigners,? said the senator.

George Labasan, a Hanjin worker, told the Inquirer at the wake for Del Rosario at the Subic Memorial Homes, that Korean and Filipino officials confiscated workers? mobile phones with cameras, which they had used to document the incident.

Jet Dangiw, another worker and town mate of Del Rosario, said he had witnessed his friend's death. "We were starting to work. We were getting our tools at Assembly 3. I was ahead. Raldon and Bochie [Camalao] went in together. Then the rain cover dropped. I saw it fall on them," Dangiw, 27, said.

Del Rosario was hit on the head. He died before reaching the St. Jude Hospital in Olongapo City.

Dangiw contradicted SBMA's initial reports that the door was being installed.

"Nakalagay na. Hindi ikinakabit pa lang (It was already installed. It was not being installed)," he said.

The contractor, Great Steel Construction, installed those roll up doors, said Armand Arreza, administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

"We're establishing if the firm is a subcontractor or a direct contractor," Arreza said.

Del Rosario and Camalao worked for Hanjin's subsidiary, Redondo I-Tech, according to Arreza.

Bruce Del Rosario, who came all the way from Pasil to fetch the remains of his brother, demanded compensation and funeral and burial aid. But the family also said it wanted to press charges against those responsible for the accident.