What caused MV Lite Ferry 16 to catch fire?
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will try to find out the cause as it joins the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) in investigating the sea tragedy.
Lucio Roger E. Lim Jr., president of Lite Shipping Corporation, said the NBI will look into the possibility that what happened was intentional.
“The NBI will check if there were foul play, sabotage or anti-government elements behind the incident,” Lim said.
MV Lite Ferry caught fire past midnight Wednesday while approaching Barangay Pulauan port in Dapitan. It left Samboan town, southern Cebu at 6 p.m. last Tuesday and was scheduled to dock at Pulauan port at 1 a.m. Wednesday.
The fire started in the engine room but Lim said it was unusual that the fire spread quickly.
Lim said the vessel was in top condition since it was dry docked for maintenance two months ago. It underwent major retrofitting of its main engines and generators using brand new machineries.
“We will fully cooperate with the government investigation,” said Lim.
Three passengers died in the incident while four were injured. They were Chloe Labisig, a toddler, Danilo Gomez and Roland Heneral, both senior citizens.
Each of the family of the fatalities will receive P240,000.
Financial assistance will also be given to the survivors.
Lim also clarified that all 245 passengers and 38 crew members have been accounted for.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas, there were 180 passengers and 28 crew members in the manifest.
Lim said those who were not in the manifest could be the non-paying passengers or those drivers and helpers of rolling cargoes.
These drivers and helpers usually list their names when they are already on board. At the time, the vessel was carrying seven 10-wheeler trucks, 13 six-wheeler trucks and five motorbikes.
The ill-fated vessel is now anchored in Plaridel Port in Misamis Occidental.
Coast Guard personnel are set to remove the 19,000 liters of fuel from the vessel. Oil spill boom will also put up around the vessel to avoid oil spill, said Lt. Junior Grade Michael Encina, spokesperson of Philippine Coast Guard Central Visayas.
PHOTO CREDIT: ALLAN BARREDO
