EDITORIAL – Independent probe needed

As of the latest count, 76 people were confirmed dead while 12 to 13 others remained unaccounted for in the fire that engulfed the ferry June Aster as it approached the port of Coron in Palawan on the night of Sept. 9.

Yesterday, the captain of the roll-on, roll-off ferry, who had been missing since the accident, surfaced and faced Philippine Coast Guard authorities in Palawan, accompanied by executives of the vessel’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc.

The Department of Transportation should conduct an independent investigation of this disaster instead of leaving the probe to the Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority.

Marina certifies vessels for seaworthiness while the Philippine Coast Guard clears ships for sailing. As in several other maritime disasters in the past years, Marina and PCG officials or employees could be held liable for the disaster.

Most of the bodies were pulled out of the lower sections of the RORO, where an explosion was reportedly heard before the fire broke out and spread rapidly throughout the ship. Only 43 people so far are confirmed to have survived the disaster.

It’s not the first deadly fire to hit a passenger ferry in this country. In May 1995, the ferry Antipolo VII caught fire and sank near the Dalahican Fish Port in Lucena City, claiming 62 lives, with 10 missing.

In May 2022, seven people died and scores were injured when fire broke out in the engine room of the Mercraft 2 and rapidly spread as the vessel neared the Real port in Quezon province.

A fire broke out on the ferry Lady Mary Joy 3 in March 2023 and burned for about nine hours, leaving 33 people dead. An electrical short-circuit was blamed for the blaze.

Now there’s another deadly fire on another ferry.

The DOTr must carry out an independent probe, which can pinpoint any possible lapses on the part of the ship operator, the Marina or the PCG. These agencies may not be at fault, but this must be established by an independent team; the agencies cannot investigate themselves.

An independent, credible probe will help in preventing a repeat of the accident, and pave the way for the victims and their families to get justice and proper compensation.