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62 survivors of M/V Princess of the Stars found

BY VICTOR REYES - RESCUERS have found 62 survivors and 15 bodies from last Saturday’s sea tragedy involving the “MV Princess of the Stars” that capsized off Sibuyan strait, in Romblon province and which carried around 800 passengers and crew, the Coast Guard said yesterday.

Thirty survivors were found in Burias island, 28 in Mulanay, Quezon, and four in San Fernando, Romblon. The 15 dead were found in Burias.

Capt. Gilbert Rueros, a representative of the Coast Guard, could not give details on the recovery of the bodies and the survivors. “We’re still working on the positive identification of the survivors as well as the fatalities.”

Rueros said the Coast Guard has expanded its search and rescue effort, going as far as Marinduque.

Commodore Luis Tuazon, commander of the Coast Guard District National Capital Region-Central Luzon, said there were actually 849 persons on board the vessel.

He said there were 121 crewmembers including the 10 security guards, four marshals from the Coast Guard, Navy and PNP, and 724 passengers.

The Coast Guard on Sunday said there were 121 crewmembers and 626 passengers aboard.

Divers prepared to drill into the ship’s hull in the hope of finding survivors in air pockets.

“We just approached the hull of the ship, we got near and then banged, knocked in order for us to get a sign if there are still people inside,” Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said. “Unfortunately there was no response.”

Nine male corpses believed to be passengers were washed ashore on Masbate yesterday.

Arevalo said another gunboat, PG 378, is on its way to the vicinity of the sunken vessel with divers and cutting machines.

“With the permission obtained from the Sulpicio Lines through the coordination of the Philippine Coast Guard, then we will able to cut it, breach on, opening on the hull of the ship and conduct search operation either from this breach that we’ll be able to create or from underneath the sea,” he said.

The Armed Forces has tapped an S76, a fixed wing aircraft, and two helicopters for search and rescue operations, said AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Cardoso Luna.

Luna said two Navy ships are on their way to Sibuyan town to reinforce another Navy ship in search and rescue operations headed by the Coast Guard.

Luna said two C130 planes have been tapped to conduct relief missions in Iloilo, which was badly hit by Frank. “Two helicopters are on aerial recon and rescue mission and all the ground troops in Panay island would continue conducting disaster response and relief operations.”

SULPICIO VESSELS GROUNDED

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza ordered the grounding of all 11 vessels of Sulpicio Lines pending investigation on their seaworthiness.

Vice President Noli de Castro formed Task Force Princess of Stars to be headed by Mendoza to coordinate efforts for the search and rescue operations and assistance to families of the victims.

After informing President Arroyo that he had ordered the grounding of Sulpicio vessels, during a video conference past noon Sunday in Fresno, California, Mendoza met with officials of Sulpicio, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Coast Guard.

He said the task force would inform a Board of Marine Inquiry to find out what happened and the Coast Guard’s response not only on rescue operations but also on the possibility of oil spill as the vessel was reported to be carrying about 200,000 liters of oil.”

WAITING FOR NEWS

Distraught relatives complained to Sulpicio employees while waiting for news in Cebu City, where the passenger ship was meant to dock.

“You can’t bring our loved ones back. You should be held responsible,” a woman told employees of the company.

A floor of the passenger terminal was converted into a mini chapel with a makeshift altar. Nuns and priests comforted those waiting.

During an emotional mass, one man pounded the wall in grief over his missing son.

Edward Go, one of Sulpicio’s owners, said the company was relying on the coast guard for information.

“We fully understand the feelings of the people and we are prepared to help them in any way we can, but as of now there is really no information available,” he said.

Go said they will give P200,000 to the fatalities’ families and financial assistance to the survivors.

“We shall honor our obligations to compensate the victims and assist survivors as well as repatriate them to Cebu,” Go said. - With Jocelyn Montemayor, Genivi Factao and Reuters

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