BUTUAN CITY (PNA) – The family of a seafarer who died on board a bulk carrier while on port call in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has asked for a deeper investigation.
Albert Coleto, 39, a resident of Tago, Surigao del Sur, died on October 9 after he collapsed while on board the Star Gwyneth bulk carrier.
COLETO (PNA/Manny Lumanao)
Bon Salinas, brother-in-law of Coleto, said they have already reached out to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to seek a probe.
“We sent a representative to the UAE because the company said we are not allowed to make a follow-up. It turned out later that there is no prohibition for us to make a follow-up on Coleto’s death,” Salinas said in an interview on Monday, October 16.
A family representative was told that the case has been closed and that the cause of death was cardiac arrest, he said.
“We asked for the autopsy report, but there was none. This is the basis of our question of why the case is already closed,” Salinas said.
In an October 9 statement issued by the family and obtained on Monday, it was alleged that Coleto was ordered by his employer to perform exhaustive cleaning and sweeping under scorching heat as attested to by his co-workers.
“Coleto, who has been working in the carrier for nearly 10 years, worked for an extended 38 hours with only a two-hour break,” the statement said.
Coleto's staffing agency, StarOcean Manning Inc., informed them of his death but “expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction with the agency’s alleged lack of transparency regarding the specific circumstances of Albert’s death.”
Salinas said they received information on Monday that OWWA has ordered an autopsy in the UAE before shipping back Coleto’s remains to the Philippines.
“We are hoping that the autopsy will be conducted the soonest possible and that the OWWA will conduct its deep probe on the death of Coleto,” Salinas said.
The family said they intend to file a case against his manning agency and other involved entities for the apparent negligence and disregard for the safety and health of crew members.