3 dead, 3 missing

CEBU, Philippines - Three people were confirmed dead, another three are still missing, while 110 others were rescued as of last night after the sinking of the MV Maharlika 2 around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

PCG Central Visayas chief Commodore William Melad said based on the official report and monitoring by PCG Northern Mindanao, there was no Cebuano on board the vessel when it sank off Binit Point, Panaon Island, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.

“Based on the information from District Commander of Coast Guard Northern Mindanao where accounting and validation of survivors are done, there is no information on whether there are Cebuanos,” Melad told The FREEMAN.

The vessels that helped rescue the survivors included the Maharlika’s sister vessel the MV Maharlika 4 which rescued 32 survivors, the MV Lara Ventura, MT St. Martin, MV Orient King, and Cokaliong Shipping’s MV Filipinas Maasin.

Contrary to previous reports that it came from Liloan, Southern Leyte, the point of origin of MV Maharlika 2 which was owned by Archipelago Ferries Corp., was Lipata, Surigao City.

The manifest showed only 58 passengers; 56 adults and two children, as well as 26 crew. It also carried 13 vehicles at the time.

Southern Leyte governor Roger Mercado said the discrepancy between the number reported in the passenger manifest and those rescued from the vessel is a matter worth looking into.

The ferry left the Lipata port at 11 a.m. and was supposed to dock at the Liloan Port at 5 p.m.

Strong winds and big waves spawned by the prevailing monsoon, however, apparently slowed down the ferry and sank it midway. Initial investigation found a steering problem led to the vessel’s sinking.

Another vessel, the MV Filipinas Dumaguete of Cokaliong Shipping, was set to pass the same area as the doomed vessel, but did not proceed to Cebu City and returned to its port of origin in Surigao City due to huge waves and strong winds.

Survivor’s story

The ship’s distress started at 2 p.m.

Survivor Ruel Mallen, 22, from Davao City, a passenger of a Philtranco bus on board, said that the ferryboat started to keel around 2 p.m.

The crew then advised them to wear life vests and reportedly started calling for rescue.

“Alas dos pa mitakilid na ang barko,” he said, “sige na og tawag og rescue pero wa gyu’y miabot. Mao nga sa dihang malunod na gyod, nangambak na mi dayon. Gisuyop sa tubig ang uban. Usa dayon, usa ka babaye ang on-the-spot nakong nakit-an patay.”

Ruel, who was travelling with his three-year old son, Tristan, said they survived because they were able to get on a rubber boat.

He said around 13 of them were able to get on the rubber boat. He said that from the time the boat started keeling to one side, he already kept his eyes on the rubber boat, planning for the worst.

When asked if he or other passengers tried calling friends for help during the time the ferryboat started to keel, he said they could not. The waves were so big and waters so rough that they could barely hold their cellular phones, much more dial them.

Surigao Red Cross administrator Marilou Tarinting said that they gave the survivors hot meals and sent three people with more serious injuries to the Surigao General Hospital. They are also giving stress debriefing to the survivors, some of whom she described were “still in shock.”

Partial passenger list

Mercado said they cannot yet give the complete list of the survivors because they are still working on their official report.

However, a partial obtained from PO2 Agustin Valles of the Surigao City Police Station listed the names of 26 survivors, who were first to be rescued.

They are Ruel Mallen, 22; Tristan Mallen, 3; Jesse Buhos, 26; of Valencia, Ormoc City; Ronald Villaris, 43, of San Fernando, Pampanga; Ritchie Cagas, 36, of Mabunturon, Davao; Gerald Tucuyo, 33, of Batangas; Vicente Adolfo, 30, of Capiz; Raul Acero, 41, of General Santos City; Roselito Tabon, 28, single, of Liloan, So. Leyte; Armando Glabal, 43, of Misamis Oriental; Rodney Calibuyot, 25, of Panabo City; Emil Ligue, 22, of Basey, Samar; Maria Isabel Ligue, 28, of Basey, Samar; Vicenciano Criselda, 41, of Bagong City; Christian Balile, 37, of Davao; Dennis Rudas, 28, of Mandaluyong City; Dexter Nieves, 29, of Mandaluyong City; Jessie Saberon, 56, of San Pedro, Laguna; Gerson Sabrane, 16, of Cebu; Jaype Agujo, 25, of Batangas; Erwin Reyes, 35, of Batangas; Sonny Nuyles, 34, of Batangas; Ruth Balane, 48, of Imus, Cavite; Justin Alamo, 6, of Imus, Cavite; Eta Mesias, 54, of Campilan, Surigao del Sur; and Melanie Buti, 15, of Davao.

Rommel Dabbu Tianson, 39, and Arvin Maagad Mosqueda, 36, were also picked up by the MV Filipinas Maasin of Cokaliong yesterday morning. -With correspondent Lalaine Jimenea/BRP