2 other survivors of sunken M/V Baleno 9 found

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) disclosed yesterday that the agency had recently confirmed that two more survivors were reported more than two weeks after the M/V Baleno 9 sank off Verde Island in Batangas last Dec. 26.

The Baleno 9, a 199 gross ton roll-on roll-off (RoRo) type vessel plying the Calapan, Oriental Mindoro-Batangas City route with 88 passengers and crew on board, sank before midnight near Batangas City on Dec. 26. The ship was authorized to carry 284 passengers and crew.

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo identified the survivors as Jocelyn Datoon, 38, and her daughter Annabelle Datoon, four-months old, of Sta. Rosa II, Baco in Oriental Mindoro.

Tamayo said fishermen rescued the two survivors off Barangay Tingloy in Batangas City on Dec. 26 at the height of the search and rescue operations for the passengers of the Baleno 9.

Tamayo said that at about 10:50 a.m. last Saturday, a certain Jessie Datoon reported to the Coast Guard Station in Calapan that his wife and daughter are alive.

Initial investigation conducted by elements of the PCG in Calapan revealed that on Jan. 2, Annabelle Datoon called up her husband to inform him that she and her daughter are alive.

Tamayo, however, said that his wife could not speak due to shock. She called up her husband again last Jan. 7 to inform him about their situation and asked him to fetch them at Balatero Pier in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

PCG records showed that there were six persons confirmed dead, 72 survivors and 46 still missing after the Baleno 9 sank.