Body of mayor, two others found under sunken ferry

SURIGAO CITY–Rescuers finally found yesterday the body of Mayor Arlencita Navarro of Del Carmen town and two other fatalities who were trapped underneath the hull of the ill-fated ferry M/B Leonida II that sank in the vicinity of Hinatuan and Halian Islands last Nov. 25.

Coast Guard officials said the three bodies were found by divers at around 11:30 a.m. The victims were pinned down by the sunken vessel.

Lorelei Navarro-Santiago, daughter of Mayor Navarro, confirmed in a text message that her mother’s body was recovered.

"I am now with the Coast Guard boat and we are proceeding to the Port of Surigao City. Yes, mommy’s body was already found past 11 a.m. this morning," Santiago said in her text message to The STAR.

Coast Guard officials also identified one of the two other bodies as Sherlyn Dantes. The other fatality was beyond recognition because the remains were already in an advance state of decomposition.

Delia Escauso, 52, one of the 66 survivors and a companion of Navarro on board the Leonida II, had told rescuers that the mayor and Del Carmen Councilor Juanita Comon (who also drowned) were last seen together while floating beside the sinking boat.

"When I urged them (Navarro and Comon) to swim out from the sinking ferry towards me, Mayor Navarro told me to go ahead and save myself. That was the last time I saw her and Comon," said Escauso who is an aide of the mayor.

The recovery of the bodies of the mayor and the two other victims had raised to 19 the death toll of the sea tragedy, even as 14 others remained missing.

Surigao City Coast Guard Commander Gonzalo Magno identified one of the bodies recovered last Thursday as Geremie Comelon, 22, a male school teacher whose body was found floating near Punta Cili Point in Halian Island.

Mayor Alfonso Casurra said aside from Comelo, also recovered was the body of Thelma Burdeos.

Magno said search operations will continue to find the other missing passengers.

Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Coyme said search and rescue teams will not stop operations until all the missing passengers are found.