Search continues for missing passengers of sunken ferry

MANILA, Philippines - Search and rescue operations continued yesterday for the lone remaining missing passenger of the ferry M/V Maharlika 2 that sank off Southern Leyte on Saturday.

The Coast Guard identified the missing passenger as Felizardo Saberon.

“We believe that this person is on board the ship and is still missing because he is the only one who has relatives looking for him,” PCG Cmdr. Armand Balilo said.

The Coast Guard has issued a notice to mariners to alert commercial ships passing Southern Leyte to be on the lookout and render assistance if they spot Saberon.

“With the recovered bodies, the total number of fatalities has increased to eight,” said Navy spokesman, Lt. Cmdr. Marideth Domingo.

The PCG identified the fatalities as Arlita Puyales, Betty Bahi, Rahima Esmael, Tiffany Saberon, Armando Mosqueda, Ramon Molata and Nelson Custodio. A female body has yet to identified.

The Coast Guard earlier said 110 passengers survived the tragedy.

Sources from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council said the sinking of M/V Maharlika 2 was not related to Typhoon Luis.

The roll-on, roll-off ferry sank after developing steering problems off the coastal town of San Ricardo.

4-man probe team

Meanwhile, Balilo said a four-man maritime casualty investigating team would conduct a probe into the sinking of the ferry.

Commodore Gilbert Rueras of the PCG Maritime Safety Services will lead the probe team with a lawyer and two PCG mariners as members.

“The investigation will begin today in Lipata, Surigao City. They would soon be sending out summons in aid of the investigation. They would be inviting people whose testimonies would be material to the investigation, such as the ship captain, survivors and witnesses in the incident,” Balilo said.

He said the vessel’s owner, Archipelago Ferries Corp., would be asked to submit documents, such as the passenger manifest and the voyage plan.

Balilo said the probe team was not given a deadline to complete its investigation, but is expected to speed up work.