Authorities on Thursday confirmed three crew members died of suffocation inside a ship’s tank, which is docked in Barangay Camastillisan in Calaca, Batangas, on Monday morning.
The investigation into the motor tanker Andrina 200 is in full swing to ensure that no foul play occurred. The crew members were identified as Enrique Jay Haspado, John Rey Illustrisimo, and Ryan jay Bantilan.
“According sa findings naman ng SOCO-Batangas, ang naging cause of death talaga ay yung kanilang suffocation. Wala namang external or physical damage or sugat para masabi nating foul play, mismong soco na rin ang nagsabi na ito ay suffocation ang cause of death,” said Police Maj. Virgilio Jopia, chief of Calaca Municipal Police Station.
The crew who cleaned a tank in Andrina were found dead.
“Nung nililinis nila yung kanilang empty cargo oil tank, nag-emit ito ng mabahong oil o gas odor, dahil nga ito ay isang tangke. Kung ano ang pinasukan nila, maliit lang yun. Dun lang yung ventilation nun, that’s why na-suffocate itong mga to, at nirescue din naman agad ng kanilang mga kasamahan, yun nga lang sila ay nag-expire pagdating ng hospital,” said Jopia.
Haspado’s aunt wonders why his nephew has to go inside the tanker oil even though he is still a trainee.
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3 crew members died of suffocation inside ship’s tank in Batangas
“Kapag nakakausap namin ang kapitan, chief, mate tsaka yung ibang katrabaho, walang sinasabi. Wala daw silang utos. Pero ang tanong namin kung wala silang utos, bakit bababa yung mga bata?” said Haspado’s aunt.
“‘Yun ang mabigat sa amin, kasi pinag-training namin siya para matuto hindi para mamatay,” she added.
The families of the victims will discuss whether to file a case against the ship’s management.
“Kung sila ay may plano, ito naman ay aksidente, titingnan natin kung may pananagutan yung kompanya. Makipag-ugnayan sa amin ‘yung pamilya ng mga biktima para sa ganun maproseso na agad natin kung ano ang nararapat sa tatlo na biktima ng aksidente,” said Jopia.
ABS-CBN News asked the side of the ship’s captain but he refused to give a statement so far.