1 dead, 15 safe as vessel sinks; Nine fishermen missing in another incident

CEBU, Philippines —  A crew member of M/V Lite Ferry died when the vessel submerged after encountering a problem while docking at the port in Ormoc City, Leyte late evening on Friday, September 24, 2021. Fifteen others were rescued.

The incident occurred just moments after the vessel arrived at the port from the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Responding to the distress call, Philippine Coast Guard personnel saw the vessel already listing on its starboard side when they arrived at the port.

A little past midnight, they launched a search and rescue operations were able to rescue 15 of the vessel’s crew members.

The vessel’s purser, Raquel Alo, 33, was reportedly trapped inside, prompting an underwater search. More than two hours later, rescuers found her body under several cargoes. The fatality was turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO).

Hours later at 5 a.m. on September 25, Alo’s body was turned over to a funeral parlor in Ormoc City. An official of Danilo Lines, Inc. said they are arranging for Alo’s remains to be brought to her hometown in Bohol.

Meanwhile, the 15 survivors were given medical assistance. Yesterday, they were reportedly in shock from what they had to go through.

The PCG has advised the captain of the vessel to file a marine protest.

Danilo Lines, Inc. said investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident. There were no passengers when the vessel submerged but the vessel was loaded with cargo.

“To our valued shippers and customers, we will be deploying a replacement vessel starting tomorrow to take the Cebu City to Ormoc City route,” the company said in its Facebook post yesterday.

A company official also told The Freeman that they will also conduct their own investigation into the incident.

Iloilo incident

Meanwhile, PCG also responded to another maritime incident involving a fishing vessel, FV/ St. Peter The Fisherman with 31 fishermen on board that reportedly sank between the vicinity waters off Tanguingui Island in Northern Cebu and Gigantes Island in Iloilo also on September 24, 2021.

PCG said the fishing vessel, which was skippered by Captain Frankie Chavez and owned by Tristar Fishing Corporation, sank due to strong winds and big waves.

The PCG in Western Visayas immediately deployed BRP Nueva Vizcaya (SARV-3502) and PCG-manned BFAR vessel, MCS-3010 to conduct search and rescue operations.

At around 04:15 p.m., the sister vessel of the sunken vessel, FV Old Man and the Sea, successfully rescued 22 of the 31 distressed fishermen and brought them to the Cadiz City Commercial Port in Negros Occidental.

One of the 22 survivors, Second Mate Pablito Desamparado, shared that while fishing at around 01:00 a.m., they encountered strong winds and big waves that caused the boat to list to the left until it eventually sank.

The crew members who remained missing as of yesterday, September 25, were identified as Boat Captain Frankie Chavez (Toboso, Negros Occidental); Sonar Operator Norberto Parlotzo (Bantayan Island, Cebu); Steersman Renante Forsuelo (Cadiz City, Negros Occidental); Steersman Victor Calvo (Cadiz City, Negros Occidental); Chief Engineer Herminio Ronamo (Estancia, Iloilo); Third Engineer Manuel Auditor (Cadiz City, Negros Occidental); Piscador Rommel Engle (Cadiz City, Negros Occidental); Piscador Julit Salvo (Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental); and Cook Julian Dungog (Cadiz City, Negros Occidental). JMO (FREEMAN)