Kin of MV June Aster victims forgotten by shipping line, says Erwin Tulfo

After the tragic MV June Aster fire that claimed at least 77 lives, Senator Erwin Tulfo accused the company that owned the ill-fated ferry for allegedly abandoning the families who lost loved ones in the incident.

During the Senate plenary session on Wednesday, Tulfo said the deaths and injuries were not mere statistics. While he recognized the responders to the scene, Tulfo said several questions remain unanswered.

“Reports indicate that the Atienza Shipping Lines, the operator of M/V June Aster, has allegedly abandoned the bereaved families. The survivors were given meager amounts—insufficient even to cover their transportation costs to return home,” Tulfo said.

“Mismo ang mga survivors at ang kanilang mga pamilya ang ating nakausap. Ang hinaing po nila, wala nang pakialam ang Atienza Interisland Shipping Lines sa kanila,” he added.

(The survivors themselves and their families spoke with us. Their concern is that the Atienza Interisland Shipping Lines no longer cares for them.)

Tulfo also questioned if there were enough emergency response equipment on board, saying some accounts claim there were no reliable high-powered flashlights.

The lawmaker also questioned if all the security protocols were followed, especially when it came to potentially hazardous materials and cargo onboard.

The ship’s manifest may not also be accurate, so it casts doubt on how many people were still missing, according to Tulfo.

“This is not merely about understanding how the fire started or how to improve measures for the future. This is a matter of seeking justice for lives lost that may have been due to sheer negligence,” he said.

Tulfo said the Senate must craft policies where passenger records are digitized, and safety protocols are updated.

GMA News Online has reached out to Atienza Shipping Lines regarding Tulfo’s speech and will update the story once the company responds. —RF, GMA News