BASILAN Rep. Mujiv Hataman is filing a resolution seeking to investigate, in aid of legislation, the circumstances surrounding the ferry fire that struck the M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 on March 29 off Basilan.
According to Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, he will file the resolution once work resumes in the House of Representatives after the Lenten season break.
The ferry fire has claimed the lives of 31 passengers and injured several others.
Hataman said he is also seeking a review of related maritime laws, common carrier statutes and other operational rules and regulations applicable to sea vessels carrying passengers and cargo, in the hope of crafting legislation to strengthen laws and regulations protecting passengers.
“Nais nating malaman kung ano ba ang pinagmulan ng trahedyang ito. Saan nagsimula ang sunog? Sino o ano ang responsable? Bakit hindi naagapan agad? Bakit kulang sa response ang mga kawani ng barko? Seaworthy ba ang ferry? At bakit umabot sa lagpas tatlumpo ang namatay?” Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, said.
“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 added.
M/V Lady Mary Joy 3, a vessel operated by Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc., was en route to Jolo, Sulu from Zamboanga City when it caught fire off the shores of Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.
“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,” the Basilan solon said.
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