Philippine Senator Raffy Tulfo has called for the mandatory installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on all ships carrying seafarers, arguing that such a measure would help resolve cases of missing crew members.

During a Senate Committee on Migrant Workers hearing on March 6, Tulfo urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to push for the policy through the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

“I want you to push for it through the SOLAS convention,” Tulfo told DMW chief Hans Cacdac. “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.”

Cacdac responded that the agency has been working on an “elaborate set of rules” to address the issue.

“We are braced to issue an elaborate set of rules. Because of the Magna Carta (for Seafarers), we have the (Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)), and from the IRR, the DMW will issue a more focused set of rules, particularly on the disappearance of seafarers,” Cacdac explained.

He added that the DMW has long advocated for CCTV installation on ships and will push for amendments to the implementing rules of the Magna Carta for Seafarers.

Unresolved cases of missing seafarers 

Tulfo’s call came as the committee examined the disappearances of four Filipino seafarers under unclear circumstances.

One of them, 28-year-old Ralph Anthony Bobiles, was reported missing on December 5, 2024 while working onboard a car carrier. According to his family, he was last seen ashore with a crewmate a day before he vanished. His father, Elias Bobiles Jr, has since been seeking government assistance in finding answers.

Cacdac said the DMW remains unsatisfied with the explanation provided by the ship’s captain and crew, which stated only that Ralph “just disappeared”.

“We are still not satisfied with their statements, such as that he just disappeared and no other information besides that. We don’t accept that, of course,” Cacdac said when asked by Tulfo on the updates. He added that maritime authorities in Panama, under whose flag the vessel was operating, have yet to submit a report.

Another missing seafarer, Jeric Bueno, disappeared on February 22, 2025, while aboard the MSC Poesia cruise ship near Brazil. His body was found floating five days later, on February 27.

“This is still under investigation, but we are in contact with the ship owner, the seafarers, and the authorities,” Cacdac said, adding that the agency is demanding an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Jimbo Cadungog was last seen on August 31, 2024, as his vessel approached the port of Bari, Italy. The government has engaged with his family and the licensed manning agency, pressing the flag state and shipowner for a full report.

The fourth case discussed was that of Vincent San Diego, who was last seen aboard the vessel Kiervaagsund on June 16, 2023, before being reported missing.

Cacdac said the agency has been coordinating with San Diego’s manning agency but has yet to receive an adequate explanation. Norwegian authorities, under whose flag the ship operates, are also being pressed for an investigation report.

Of the four cases, only Bueno’s body has been recovered.

Philippine Senator Raffy Tulfo.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

Father of missing seafarer demands answers 

Elias, a barangay captain (district head) in San Roque, Tabaco City, Albay, expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in his son’s case.

His emotional plea underscored the anguish that families of missing seafarers endure in the absence of clear answers.

“It is incredibly painful for a father to receive news that his child has gone missing in the vast ocean, especially without any clear investigation report from Parola Maritime Agency. I have helped many as a public servant, yet I cannot do anything for my own son,” he told the committee in Filipino.

“If ships had CCTV cameras, we would immediately know what happened. If tracking devices were attached to crew members, locating them would be easier,” he added.

Elias urged authorities to strengthen policies protecting seafarers.

“Above all else, human life must be the priority of shipowners and manning agencies. Without seafarers, their businesses would not succeed, so they must ensure their safety,” he said.

During the hearing, Elias submitted a formal request for key documents related to his son’s disappearance, including a copy of the ship’s CCTV footage, audio data recordings, the captain’s report, the supposed 72-hour search and rescue report, and investigation reports from relevant port authorities.

Lack of security measures on ships

Tulfo questioned the absence of security measures that could help determine what happened to missing seafarers.

“Why don’t we request that ships be required to install CCTV? Preferably through the SOLAS, so it becomes mandatory for all ships worldwide that have seafarers,” he said.

Cacdac agreed with the proposal but noted that another government agency is responsible for raising the matter before SOLAS.

“At the DMW, our focus — alongside the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) — is on the Maritime Labor Convention, which also includes amendments on seafarer abandonment. We will bring this up at the next Maritime Labor Convention Special Tripartite Committee meeting in Geneva,” he said.

“I want to attend the next SOLAS International Convention to push for a requirement that all ships install CCTV cameras. If we had CCTV, we would know if someone was pushed or jumped voluntarily, and the investigation process would be much shorter,” Tulfo said. 

Tulfo also urged the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to require CCTV on Philippine-registered ships.

“Since this is within our jurisdiction, I want you to ensure that all local ships have CCTV. Can you do that?” he asked.

A MARINA representative responded: “Yes, Mr Chair. We will raise this to the management for the issuance of a memorandum circular, requiring CCTV on vessels.” 

Strengthening seafarer protection 

With Tulfo pushing for stricter policies, families hope for more accountability in the industry.

Elias welcomed the proposal, saying: “I am 100 percent in favor. If a seafarer goes missing, CCTV would help determine whether foul play was involved or if it was an accident,” he told Maritime Fairtrade in a text message on March 7.

He emphasized the need for stronger policies, saying: “This incident should serve as a lesson for authorities to strengthen policies to ensure the safety of our seafarers.”

Elias also reiterated his appeal for transparency regarding his son’s case.

“If they already know what happened to my son, they should not prolong the wait. This will help us accept the truth,” he appealed. 

The Senate Committee’s inquiry into the disappearances of Filipino seafarers remains ongoing, with Tulfo and Cacdac committed to pushing for stronger safety measures, including the suggestion to equip seafarers with GPS tracking devices to make them easier to locate if they go missing.

All photos credit: Senate of the Philippines

Top photo: Senate Committee’s inquiry into missing seafarer Ralph Anthony Bobiles.