Filipino seafarer dies, another hurt after anchor's chain snaps

Filipino seafarer dies, another hurt after anchor's chain snaps
GMA Integrated News March 19, 2025 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/content/939854/filipino-seaf...

A Filipino boat fitter of an oil tanker in Indonesia died, while another sustained injuries after being hit by the chain of the anchor following troubleshooting works.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Mark Salazar on Wednesday, the incident occurred on March 10 after two Filipino fitters, Romulo Gollayan and Junry Popera, were sent to a chain hole to recover the stuck anchor.

However, the anchor’s chain loosened during the troubleshooting and hit both Gollayan and Popera.

Popera died after receiving most of the impact, while Gollayan was sent to the hospital due to his injuries.

“Saludo po ako sa asawa nyo… Naka-set up talaga siya na nakalaylay ang kadena para magkasya ang tao (I salute your husband… The set-up has a hanging chain and for a person to fit in),” said Gollayan in a call with Popera’s wife, Elsie.

“Ganun po [si Junry]. Kapag tinawag dahil may problema, maasahan. Hindi siya yung maarte… Hindi ko po masagot [kung disgrasya ang nangyare]. Kapag emergency problem, tatawagin talaga kami at ang kapitan nagrerely sa opisina yun kung ano gagawin,” she added.

([Junry is] really like that. You can depend on him if you call him for a problem. He’s not sensitive… I can’t answer [whether it really is an accident.] If it was an emergency problem, they really would call us and the captain relies on the office about what to do.)

Elsie said the accident that took the life of her husband could have been prevented.

Popera had been working as a fitter and troubleshooting failed anchors for the past 15 years.

“Aksidente siya, pero dapat siyang mapigilan ang disgrasya. Hindi ko masabi kung nakalimutan o hindi lang nila nadouble-check na dapat nakalock ang chain doon sa taas. Gusto ko magke-case ako sa kanila. They are trying to talk to me naman in a proper way, so mag uusap usap pa kami. Hindi pa kami tapos,” Elsie said.

(It is an accident, but it could have been prevented. I can’t tell if they forgot or if they didn’t double-check if the chain was locked at the top. I want to file a case against them. But they are trying to talk to me in a proper way, so we will be discussing. We aren’t done yet.)

“Napakasakit tanggapin, pero ano bang magagawa ko? Nandiyan na eh,” she added.

(It hurts to accept it, but what else can I do? It already happened.)

Junry’s body is still in Indonesia undergoing autopsy, while Elsie is now coordinating with her husband’s local agency, the owner of the oil tanker, and the Overseas Worker’s Welfare Association regarding the incident.

“’Yung principal naman po nangako naman sila na sila ang sasagot ng gastusin at sa insurance naman po is mayroon,” she said.

(The principal did promise to pay for everything, and he also has an insurance.) —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News