Death toll in capsized boat in Aparri rises to 46

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The death toll from the motorized banca that capsized off Aparri, Cagayan on Sunday has reached 46, and local officials said the latest sea tragedy indicates that it is high time for the government to look into the needs of villagers in the country’s island communities.

Rescuers were able to recover only one body as of 4 p.m. yesterday amid extremely cold weather and rough seas.

Ballesteros town police head Senior Inspector Alex de los Santos said the body was fished out in the town of Sanchez Mira, around four hours from this capital.

Senior Superintendent Moro Lazo, provincial police director, said six passengers of the 98 confirmed passengers of the sunken M/B Maejan remain missing.

Calayan town Mayor Joseph Llopis, whose constituents accounted for most of the fatalities of the ill-fated ferry, said although he is not blaming anybody for the accident, “it’s high time now for government to ensure the safety and seaworthiness of marine vessels plying the Calayan-Aparri route.”

Calayan Island is part of the Babuyan Group of Islands located at the northernmost tip of the Philippines, just south of Batanes, the country’s northernmost province.

“The Calayan tragedy shows the sorry state of inter-island transport between my town and the mainland which is in desperate need of assistance from the government to make it more accessible,” he said.

Captain subpoenaed

Authorities subpoenaed the skipper of the Maejan to shed light on the possible cause of the tragedy.

In a report, Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said the boat captain identified as Albert Tan would be asked to explain why the vessel set out to sea with around 100 passengers on board, which is double its maximum capacity of 50, including the crew.

Tan’s sister, Aimee Arellano, who happens to be the owner of the boat, and her daughter Abena, were among the fatalities in the latest sea mishap.

Earlier, Aimee’s husband, Engr. Edmundo Arellano, said he was taking responsibility for the incident and only requested that he be given some days to mourn the deaths of his wife and child before he would look into the plight of the victims’ families.

Tan is expected to face today the Special Board of Marine Inquiry which Tamayo ordered to conduct investigation on the sea mishap.

Meantime, the PCG yesterday conducted search and rescue operations on a sunken motorized banca that carried three Spanish divers and four Filipino guides.

Captain Enrico Evangelista, PCG commandant Wilfredo Tamayo’s chief of staff, said they have dispatched two search and rescue teams to locate and extend assistance to the M/V Maruja that reportedly went adrift about seven nautical miles South of Caluya Island, Antique.

Commodore William Melad, PCG Iloilo district commander, said that based on initial reports, the motorized boat with outrigger reportedly experienced engine trouble around 6:30 a.m. yesterday, just as it was about to go back to Boracay after visiting diving sites in Caluya Island.

The stranded seven immediately called up their friends in Boracay and asked for assistance.

As of press time, Melad said that they are still continuing with their search and rescue efforts.

“We do not know the conditions of the three foreigners and four Filipino guides, but we have not received information if there was any casualty,” he said.

On the lookout

Philippine Coast Guard Iloilo station acting commander Harold Jarder yesterday said they are on the lookout for overloaded ships especially during the holidays.

Jarder said during peak seasons like Christmas, ship operators may be tempted to take in passengers and cargo load beyond their vessel’s capacity.

“We have started monitoring the ports within our jurisdiction for overloaded ships,” Jarder said. “I have already requested for additional personnel to be assigned in the Ortiz wharf.”

Ferry boats en route to or from Guimaras dock at the Ortiz wharf.

Jarder added that they are also monitoring fastcraft servicing the Iloilo-Bacolod route who may have excess passengers. – With Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag, Evelyn Macairan