MANILA, Philippines — Senator Erwin Tulfo has pressed maritime regulators to accelerate their inquiry into the M/V June Aster ferry fire while demanding immediate and proper compensation for the victims and their grieving families.
The September 9 tragedy near Coron, Palawan, left 77 people dead and eight others missing.
Tulfo urged the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to fast-track their respective probes and determine if the ship’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., should face liability for the disaster.
“This is a heartbreaking disaster. We cannot sit idly by and abandon these bereaved families and traumatized survivors,” Tulfo said.
The senator issued the statement following reports that relatives of the deceased were allegedly told to simply return home and wait for their loved ones’ remains, while several survivors expressed frustration over inadequate support from the vessel’s management.
“The remains of their families are not parcels! These people boarded at Baseco port full of hope and dreams, only to be killed, traumatized, and tossed aside. This is not right!” Tulfo said.
He also questioned the root cause of the blaze, including whether hazardous or unauthorized cargo was being transported on board.
“What really went wrong in that ferry? Was hazardous or unauthorized cargo loaded on board? And why do circulating videos show helpless passengers left entirely on their own during a deadly blaze?” he asked.
Tulfo disclosed that several survivors and victims’ families have personally sought help from his office, claiming that the shipping firm failed to provide them with necessary post-disaster care.
“And what about their compensation? Victims are coming to my office desperate for help because no one from the company is taking care of them after the incident. We cannot let this slide,” he said.
The lawmaker intends to raise the issue on the Senate floor to establish accountability and push for legislative measures to bolster national maritime safety standards.
He further called on authorities to ensure that surviving passengers, relatives of the deceased, and families of the missing receive all legal assistance and financial compensation due to them.