Sinking of cargo vessel: 3 survivors found in Quezon

CEBU, Philippines – The captain and two crew members of a cargo vessel that sank off Marinduque were rescued after they were found washed ashore in General Luna and Catanauan in Quezon Province around 5 a.m. yesterday.

Ship captain Joselito Cortejos and crane operator Jerry Cortez were found along the shoreline of General Luna in Quezon by a certain Wilbert Revillar and other fisherfolks, while assistant engineer Joseph Jabonete was found in the shoreline of Barangay Tuhean, Catanauan in the same province.

Revillar said Cortez informed them that they have a fellow crewmember floating dead in the water which prompted to proceed to the area where they found the body of a certain Wenceslao Minawin.

Minawin's body was brought to the St. Peter Funeral Parlor in General Luna while Cortejos and Cortez were brought to the nearest hospital.

SF Freighter departed Manila on August 5 in fair weather to deliver steel bars to different consignees in Cebu.   Before it lost communication last Saturday, it was reported to be located at the vicinity of Dos Hermanas Island, Marinduque.

According to the initial account of the captain, they met bad weather around 11 p.m. Friday. The captain tried to maneuver the ship to a safer area but the vessel developed engine derangement at about 1 a.m.

Battered by strong winds and heavy waves, the captain then declared to abandon ship around 2:20 a.m. The crew got off the vessel on two life rafts.

SF Freighter is owned by Seaford Shipping which is based in Bacolod but whose mother port is in Cebu.

Earlier, Seaford Shipping operations officer Kevin Chua, said that they will fulfill all its obligations to the kin of their employees, especially the burial expenses of the fatalities.

Search and operations continue but the rescuers were being prevented by huge waves and poor visibility in the area where the cargo vessel sank.

PCG has already sent a notice all PCG units, the Armed Force of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, all shipping companies and coastal communities to assist in the search and rescue operation and provide assistance should they find survivors. (THE FREEMAN)