14 more bodies found in Catalyn-B wreckage

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), together with expert technical divers, yesterday found 14 more bodies from the wreckage of the wooden-hulled passenger ship M/V Catalyn B that sank off Cavite on Christmas Eve.

PCG spokesman Lt. Commander Arman Balilo said eight bodies were recovered during the first dive, and six more at around mid-afternoon.

“Of the 14 casualties, 12 of them were females and two were males. Among them were a baby girl and a baby boy,” Balilo said. Only three of them were identified as Janice Haudar, Renel Aguilar Abeleta, and Cherry Ann Taneca.

The recovery of new bodies brings to 25 the death toll in the sea mishap. Two other passengers though are still listed as missing. Forty-six people were rescued.

Six experts from Philippine Technical Divers joined the PCG operation.

As of late yesterday afternoon, Lt. Commander Marco Gines, PCG-Special Operations Group deputy chief, said the divers could not ascertain if there were still bodies left in the ship. “There are also areas in the ship that they have not yet cleared,” he said, adding that the PCG might set another diving schedule to complete the search and retrieval operations.