DOJ asked to probe tuna firms over missing fishermen

MANILA, Philippines – Two cause-oriented groups have asked the Department of Justice to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 315 fishermen and 46 vessels that went missing at the height of typhoon “Pablo”.

“We believe it is high time and urgent for the DoJ to conduct its own investigation on the case,” the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and Anakpawis partylist said in a letter to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

“If the situation merits, we ask the DoJ to issue a cease and desist order indefinitely suspending the operations of these big tuna companies involved this case of missing tuna fishermen while an investigation to be led by the justice department is being carried out for resolution,” they added.

The Philippine Coast Guard had two of the patrol boats of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), MCS-3009 departed from Mati port for search and rescue operations during the first week of December 2012.

The BFAR boats at the time it were dispatched were located 11.2 nautical miles Southeast of Balut Island in Saranggani province. Another rescue vessel was sent to scour the area up to the Indonesian border.

“The families have yet to receive a report from the said search and rescue operations,” they said.

They also urged the DoJ to pursue criminal case against the tuna companies for forcing the fishermen to still go out despite the bad weather.

They also urged the government to order the tuna companies to compensate the relatives of the missing fishermen.