Basilan Rep. Hataman calls for House probe of ferry fire
FILE PHOTO: Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman
ZAMBOANGA CITY–House deputy minority leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has joined calls for a congressional inquiry into the fire that struck MV Lady Mary Joy 3 last March 29, off the waters of Basilan that claimed the lives of 31 passengers.
Hataman said he intends to file the resolution once work resumes in the House of Representatives after the Lenten break.
He said he is also seeking a review of related maritime laws, common carrier statutes and other operational rules and regulations applicable to sea vessels carrying passengers and cargo in the hope of crafting legislation to strengthen laws and regulations protecting passengers.
“Nais nating malaman kung ano ba ang pinagmulan ng trahedyang ito. Saan nagsimula ang sunog? Sino o ano ang responsable? Bakit hindi naagapan agad? Bakit kulang sa response ang mga kawani ng barko? Sea-worthy ba ang ferry? At bakit umabot sa lagpas tatlumpo ang namatay?” asked Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
(We want to know the source of the tragedy. Where did the fire originate? Who are responsible? Why was it not immediately addressed? Why is the response lacking in the vessel? Is the ferry sea-worthy? And why it reached 31 the number of fatalities?)
“Higit sa lahat, nais nating malaman kung paano ito maiiwasan sa susunod. Are the laws and regulations concerning seas vessels ferrying passengers not enough to protect our passengers? Or does the problem emanate from their implementation?” he added.
(Most of all, we want the tragedy never to happen again.)
The vessel, owned and operated by Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc., was en route to Jolo, Sulu, from Zamboanga City when it caught fire off Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town.
“Hanggang ngayon, marami pang pasahero ang patuloy na hinahanap ng Coast Guard. Many are still unaccounted for. We owe it to their families that these missing passengers are found. At marapat lamang na gumawa tayo ng hakbang para hindi ito maulit,” Hataman said.
(Until now, a lot of passengers have been missing.)
He also noted complaints about the alleged lack of appropriate and sufficient response from Aleson Shipping Lines while the incident was happening, especially in assisting the victims and their families.
There is also a discrepancy between the passenger manifest and the report released by the Coast Guard, Hataman further noted.
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