Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Friday, March 31 called on the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to conduct a thorough probe into the fire that engulfed the ferry M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province late Wednesday night.

At least 31 persons were killed and 230 were rescued in the deadly maritime incident.

"Our country has had a string of maritime accidents, the most tragic of which was the Doña Paz which claimed the lives of more than 4,000 passengers and series of oil spill incidents, the most recent is yet to be contained," Estrada said in a statement.

"We call on our concerned agencies, particularly MARINA to conduct a no-nonsense probe on this latest sea tragedy," he said.

"Likewise, we expect MARINA to be on guard in securing the seaworthiness of passengers as well as cargo vessels," added the senator.

Whenever there is a long vacation such as Holy Week, All Saints' Day (Undas) or Christmas season, the senator noted there are tragedies involving the transportation industry "and usually we find out that the vehicle is overloaded."

"We hope that those in charge will do their mandate to ensure the safety of our countrymen," he said.

Estrada said the Basilan ferry fire incident--as  well as the sinking of oil tanker MT Princess Empress--should serve as a wake-up call to the concerned authorities in coming up with needed mechanisms to prevent the recurrence of sea accidents.

"A Senate probe need not be conducted," he said.

"What the public immediately needs is assurance of security of their safety from those tasked to oversee the operations of those in maritime transport," he pointed out.