2 Pinoys killed in oil tanker explosion

Two Filipinos were killed when an oil tanker exploded off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Julia Heidemann confirmed that the two Filipinos were among the crew of the m/t Ferry Mary who died in the explosion. She declined to identify them since their relatives have yet to be informed.

But Acting Labor Secretary Manuel Imson identified the dead as Conrado Misland and John Paciente. He has directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to provide the necessary assistance to the families of the two seamen.

Imson said the two seafarers died last June 9 when a fire broke out in the oil tanker’s engine room. A Sri Lankan also perished in the incident.

Reports received by the Philippine embassy in the UAE said the two Filipino seamen reportedly suffocated from the fumes inside the tanker.

The embassy also said there are unconfirmed reports that five to seven Filipinos survived and are being interrogated by Fujairah authorities to determine the actual cause of the explosion.

Heidemann said Philippine labor attaché Vicente Cabe is at Fujairah, prepared to extend any form of assistance to Filipino crewmen wounded in the explosion.

It is unclear when the explosion actually took place, but initial reports said it occurred in Omani waters as the tanker was being towed to Fujairah. The first reports on the explosion came out last Friday.

M/t Ferry Mary is owned by a Greek firm and registered in Liberia.

Imson said the remains of the two seafarers are still in the UAE but labor officials there are working on their immediate repatriation.

He added that the families of the two seamen are entitled to insurance and death benefits amounting to P200,000, aside from compensation for any children they may have below 21 years of age.

Meanwhile, Imson also said no heads will roll just yet among the labor officials in Lebanon until the Department of Labor and Employment receives the official report on the deaths of three Filipina workers there.

DOLE "has not yet been furnished an official report of the investigating team. We will take a look at the report as soon as we have it," he said.

Imson added that he met with foreign affairs officials who assured him that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to release a formal report.

Previously published reports (not in The STAR) said the DFA team has recommended the immediate relief of all labor officials in Lebanon.

Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Ramoncito Marino earlier tendered his resignation amid reports that the three Filipina domestic helpers died while trying to escape from their employers.

"I would like to assure the public that all actions and actuations of our labor officials in Lebanon are coordinated with our ambassador in Beirut, who as head of the post, exercises immediate supervision over all post officials and employees under our one-country team policy," Imson said.

Imson however noted that even without the report, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is now drafting a new regulation for the deployment of domestic helpers in order to prevent similar incidents from occurring. — With Mayen Jaymalin