DFA identifies three Pinoys killed in Bahrain boat mishap

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has identified the three Filipino fatalities after a cruise boat sank off the coast of Bahrain on Thursday.

The three were identified as Norman Belardo, Edwin Felipe Batacan and Quennie Aboboto Dunca, who earlier was declared missing.

President Arroyo ordered the DFA to extend all necessary assistance to the families of the Filipino fatalities in the incident.

"The President condoles with the families of three Filipinos who drowned in a cruise ship mishap off Bahrain," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo also instructed the DFA to monitor the ongoing rescue operations.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilberto Asuque said the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain is now working on bringing home the remains of the three victims.

Asuque said the DFA is also coordinating its efforts with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and other concerned agencies in extending assistance to the Filipino victims in the tragedy.

At least 57 people drowned in the ill-fated Aldana tourist boat after it capsized off the coast of Bahrain last Thursday.

Asuque also confirmed that seven Filipinos were among 67 survivors rescued by the Bahrain coast guard during the recovery operations that continued through the night, assisted by the US Navy’s 5th Fleet based in the pro-Western Gulf Arab state.

Filipino survivors Hyacinth Dacay Perez, Abigail Silva, Pamela Belardo, Lilia Hermoso, Bayani Hermoso, Lanette Salgado and Segunda Siena were among those taken to a hospital, reports said.

Asuque added the embassy in Bahrain has not sent a full report on the incident since they have yet to account for the total number of Filipinos who were aboard the boat.

The search continues for at least one other missing Filipino crewmember, he said.

Bahrain’s Criminal Investigation Directorate reported that three Filipinos, two males and one female, were among the 57 casualties.

Asuque said the office of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. has already informed the next of kin of the three Filipino fatalities.

Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Eduardo Pablo Maglaya said the Bahraini company that hosted a party in the tourist boat will be held liable for the boat accident.

"The (Bahraini) company will be liable for the tragedy. They hired the boat and the personnel for the party," Maglaya said in Filipino during an interview on Vice President Noli De Castro’s weekly radio program, "Para Sa Iyo ... Bayan."

Maglaya informed the DFA that the Aldana Tourist Boat was the venue for a party hosted by the firm Nassmauroee and Robert, with a guest list of 150 persons.

Fifteen of the listed guests, fortunately, did not show up, he said.

Maglaya said the accident happened one kilometer offshore of Manama City on Thursday night (Bahrain time) when the twin-decked boat suddenly tilted onto its side.

"The boat was running but it shifted weight when it was making a turn," he said.

Maglaya said the Bahrain authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.

Reports quoted Bahrain Interior Ministry spokesman Colonel Tareq al-Hassan as saying the fatalities included 21 Indians, 13 Britons, five Filipinos, five South Africans, four Singaporeans, four Pakistanis, two Thais, a German, an Irish citizen and a South Korean.

Officials said the latest count showed that just two passengers were still missing and Bahrain television showed pictures of rescue workers using pickaxes to try to break through the bottom of the vessel.

Authorities detained the boat’s captain, saying he was unqualified.

Officials said 126 people were believed to have been onboard when the boat capsized. Tourism sources said the vessel had a capacity of 100.

US and Bahraini officials said there was no indication that the sinking was the result of an attack. — With Aurea Calica