Non-retrieval of all bodies from Stars worries VM Rama

CEBU - As retrieval operations at the sunken Princess of the Stars near its end, Acting Mayor Michael Rama is worried that the families of the passengers whose bodies would not be retrieved would once again experience depression.

The city has prepared for the arrival of 500 bodies of passengers that perished in the June 21 sinking of the Princess of the Stars but divers were only able to retrieve 127 by far. Most of the 127 are already in the state of decomposition.

The other day, the divers’ supervisor, Jorge Ponce, said it might already be impossible for them to locate all the missing bodies. Retrieval operations started last October 26 but only after the toxic cargoes from inside the ship were taken out.

“Nangandam ta’g maayo dinhi sa Cebu para sa pag-abot sa kapin sa 500 ka lawas. Sigurado nga mangita g’yod ang mga paryente sa maong mga pasahero kon hain na ang kapin sa 300,” Rama said.

The Princess of the Stars reportedly had 864 people on board when it left Manila for Cebu last June 21. It capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon at the height of typhoon Frank. 

The recovered bodies are expected to arrive in Cebu anytime this week. Rama reiterated his request that families of missing victims just wait until they are requested by the forensic team to identify the cadavers. - Rene U. Borromeo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)