Police in the Philippines have brought murder charges against a total of nineteen people, including ship operator Joge Bong Zarco, captain Warren Oliviero, and 17 crew members of a passenger ferry that capsized off the port of Ormoc City, killing at least 59 people, media reports said.
"They were not careful, showing there was an intent to kill. They were reckless on purpose," regional police head Chief Superintendent Asher Dolina was quoted by the news agency AFP as saying on Saturday.
If convicted, the 17 may each face up to 40 years behind bars, in line with Philippine law.
