1 dead, 19 rescued as cargo vessel sinks off Batangas

BATANGAS, Philippines – A crewmember died and 19 others were rescued when a cargo vessel sank off Batangas on Thursday.

Batangas Coast Guard commander Capt. Gregorio Adel identified the fatality as chief engineer Almarito Anciano.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said they could not yet determine how Anciano died. Anciano was with the other crewmembers when they abandoned the ship.

Two of the crewmembers – Capt. Luzvimindo Casipong and oiler Rizaldy Subo – were brought to the St. Camillus Hospital along Port Diversion Road in Batangas City.

M/V Sea Merchant left the port in Bauan, Batangas at noon and was on its way to Antique when it capsized at around five nautical miles from the Malabrigo lighthouse in Lobo, Batangas at around 4 p.m.

Reports said the cargo vessel, owned by Sea Fortune Carrier, was carrying 20,000 bags of cement and had just loaded 16,000 liters of diesel when it capsized.

Passing vessels MV Mactan and MV Divina Gracia rescued 11 and eight of the crewmembers, respectively.

Senior Superintendent Jireh Omega Fidel, Batangas police director, said an investigation into the sinking of the cargo ship is ongoing. – With Ed Amoroso, Evelyn Macairan