Sen. Estrada seeks probe of deaths at shipyard

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada on Monday called for an investigation into the accident that killed six Filipino workers at the Keppel Shipyard in Subic last Friday.

“Thus far, the Singapore-based (company) has successfully fended off any serious government-sanctioned inquiry into what really happened. Even the mayor of Subic, Jeffrey Khonghun, was denied access to the shipyard’s premises when he rushed there (after) the incident,” said Estrada, Senate labor chairman, in a privilege speech.

Five of the workers died instantly after a steel ramp was torn from supporting posts and pinned them below. The sixth victim died from severe injuries in a hospital.

“Such resistance is an outright refusal to recognize local authority. Certainly the management of the Subic shipyard is well within its rights to defend its self-proclaimed adherence to strict safety standards. It is also free to claim that accidents do happen in working environments everywhere,” the senator said.

Estrada noted that since Friday, the investigation of the incident had been “at a standstill.”

“Furthermore, there are disturbing reports… that victims of onsite injuries have been regular visitors to Subic’s Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital—an average of one (patient) every three months. There are also reports of a worker falling to his death from a scaffolding, and an oil tanker exploding in the shipyard’s premises,” he added.

Estrada said the latest tanker explosion was preceded by one that occurred in 2003 which killed five. Cathy Yamsuan