By Alec Go
Basilan Lone District Rep. Mujiv Hataman is planning to file a resolution for a Congressional investigation into the March 29 Basilan ferry fire involving M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 that killed at least 29 people.
In an update, the deputy minority leader said they are planning to file the resolution to determine what happened after the House Lenten break.
“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 pointed out.
“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,” he added.
Hataman noted complaints on the alleged lack of appropriate response from the vessel’s operator, Aleson Shipping Lines, during the fire incident.
He said there was a discrepancy between the passenger manifest between Aleson Shipping Lines and the Philippine Coast Guard’s report.
“We hope to ascertain and clarify all of these once a congressional inquiry is undertaken. Ang mahalaga, malaman natin ang puno’t dulo ng trahedya at saan nagkamali o nagkulang,” he said.
“If these can be addressed by legislation, we will do so in Congress. If this is a problem in implementation, we should address it,” he added.
M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 was on its way to Jolo from Zamboanga when it went ablaze off Baluk-Baluk Island waters before midnight on March 29.
In a separate statement on March 31, Senator Jinggoy Estrada called on the Maritime Industry Authority to investigate the incident and to ensure the seaworthiness of maritime vessels.
“This incident, as well as the sinking of tanker MT Princess Empress should serve as a wake-up call to the concerned authorities in coming up with needed mechanisms to prevent the recurrence of sea accidents,” he said.
“A Senate probe need not be conducted. What the public immediately needs is assurance of security of their safety from those tasked to oversee the operations of those in maritime transport,” he added. – gb