Sen. Raffy Tulfo presides over a hearing in the Senate in this file photo. (Bibo Nueva España / Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — A senator wants a closed circuit television (CCTV) installed in every ship boarded by seafarers, believing this would help solve cases of seamen disappearances.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo made the appeal during the Senate committee on migrant workers’ hearing on Thursday, specifically urging the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to push for the policy through the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
“Gusto ko though the Solas convention, i-require lahat ng barko sa buong mundo — yung may mga seafarers, lagyan natin ng cctv. Kasi kung meron, edi at least itong [mga] insidenteng yan ay malalaman natin kung may nagtulak ba o lumundag nang sarili lang at napaikli ang proseso,” said Tulfo.
(I want you to push for it through Solas convention. Require all ships across the globe where there are seafarers to install CCTV. Because if there’s one, incidents like this would be solved in an easier process.)
READ: Filipino crewman of Singaporean-flagged bulk carrier missing
At the end of Tulfo’s appeal was DMW chief Hans Cacdac who noted that the agency is now working on an elaborate set of rules to address the matter.
“We are braced to issue an elaborate set of rules. Dahil nga po sa Magna Carta at may [Implementing Rules and Regulations] and from the IRR, the DMW will issue a more focused set of rules particularly on disappearance of seafarers,” he said.
Tulfo’s appeal came after the disappearances of five Filipino seafarers were discussed. They were identified as follows:
- Ralph Bobiles was reported missing on Dec. 5, 2024. Ten days after his disappearance, his family approached DMW seeking assistance to search and or recover Bobiles’ body. According to Cacdac, they are still waiting for the investigation results of the Panamanian authorities.
- Jeric Bueno was reported missing on February 22, 2025 while on board MSC Poesia Cruise Ship located near Brazil. At present, Cacdac said Bueno’s body has been retrieved, adding that they are now demanding an autopsy of his remains.
- Jimbo Cadungog was reported missing on August 31, 2024 as the vessel was approaching the port of Barri, Italy. Cacdac said they have already engaged with Cadungog’s family as well as his licensed manning agency, demanding a report from the flag state and the ship owner.
- Vincent San Diego was last seen on board the vessel Kiervaagsund on June 16, 2023. Thereafter, he was reported missing. According to Cacdac, they have also engaged with the license manning agency of San Diego but it gas yet to provide an adequate answer as to what happened to the seafarer.
- Abraham Leonen went missing on November 1, 2024. It was reported that on October 31, he had a drink with his co-crew members while on duty. He remains missing to date.