Casualty Rises, ‘2GO’ Assures Assistance

After the collision between an inter-island passenger and a cargo vessels at the seawaters of Lawis Ledge of Cebu’s south entrance channel last Friday evening, the recorded deaths rose to 41 after two more dead body was retrieved from the sea early morning Monday.

Navy frogmen and several volunteer-divers had already left to resume the Search and Rescue/Retrieval operation, although there was no survivor found on the second day of the rescue operation on Sunday.

Reports said there are still about 80 persons missing, including the nine crew members of the ill-fated M/V St. Thomas Aquinas of 2GO Shipping Lines that was allegedly rammed by M/V Sulpicio Express Siete.

Some of the casualties are identified as Reynaldo Canyas, Domingo Anonat, 67; Niceta Acla, 74; Teohinez Jabinez, 69; Armida Manalon, 59; Hilario Miligro, 53; Alfonso Camanzo; Jonathan Cabaral; Romulo Escropolo, 73; Lolita Butao, 52; Artimia Bunotan, 58; Evelyn Caro, 53; Vicente Ancla Jr., 74.

Cresenciana Colipano, 73; Nilen Menia, crew of 2GO; Antonio Arbutante, 75; Cherry Durano; Joshua Diaz, 4; Julius Flores; Eugenia Balacuit; Hemonata Laag; Quennie Galope; Jane Sanchez; Jessamae Bacia; James Sanchez, 4; Eugenia Negro, 51; Marie Rose Dandan, 28; Ruffa Mae Fuentes, 8; Reynaldo Canas, 49; Virginita Agodina, 46 and three-month-old Carl Ian Salas. Others are still not identified.

Ship captains Reynan Bermejo of M/V St. Thomas Aquinas and Rolito Gilo of M/V Sulpicio Express Siete survived the incident and they are expected to submit their respective Marine Protest to the Philippine Coast Guard. A maritime protest is an affidavit, usually to be executed by the ship captain or in his absence, the next in rank, stating the damage which may have occurred to a certain vessel and the explanation why the incident took place. The maritime protest must be executed within twenty-four hours.

It is expected that the Cebu-based Second Coast Guard District will create a Special Board of Marine Inquiry (SBMI) to be tasked to investigate the incident and to determine which of the two vessels caused the collision.

Usually the SBMI will be composed of a ship captain and a ship marine engineer to be appointed by the Coast Guard, then the Coast Guard’s legal officer and a representative from the Cebu Harbor Pilot Association.

It was reported that there were already 751 survivors, including some crew members of the ill-fated vessel.

The collision has also led to an oil spill that is threatening the mangroves and the livelihoods of fishermen in Cordova town, Lapu Lapu City.

Meanwhile, 2GO Shipping assistant vice president Lito Salvio said they have provided cash assistance of P5,000 to each of the 506 survivors, although all survivors are entitled to cash assistance.

The company also shouldered accommodation expenses of passengers, who were temporarily billeted in hotels, including thier hospital bills, as well as burial expenses.

Salvio said the survivors will be provided with tickets and transportation expenses for them to proceed to their destinations or to go back to their respective hometowns.