Ship from Cebu sinks near Iloilo

CEBU, Philippines - A passenger vessel from Cebu bound for Iloilo listed and sank off the island of Calabasas in Ajuy town, some 87 kilometers from Iloilo City early yesterday morning. All people on board were rescued.

All passengers and crew of M/V Asia Malaysia of Trans Asia Shipping Lines, Inc. were rescued, said Commodore Athelo Ybañez, Philippine Coast Guard – Western Visayas commander.

Based on the M/V Asia Malaysia’s master’s oath of safe departure, there were 107 passengers and 35 crew members.

But as of late afternoon yesterday, Ybañez said that the actual number of people on the ship — passengers and crew members — went up to 178.

Of the said number, 44 are crew members and ancillaries while 134 are passengers.

First to rescue the passengers were fishermen as well as the local Bantay Dagat.

The fishermen towed some passengers on board the ill-fated ship’s life raft to M/V Filipinas Cebu of the Cokaliong Shipping.

M/V Filipinas Cebu sailed from the Port of Cebu an hour after M/V Asia Malaysia.

She rescued 42 passengers and brought them at the Port of Iloilo at around 10:30 a.m.

Thirty three persons, including the ship captain, were brought to Culasi Port in Ajuy while 103, seven of whom are crew members, were rescued by M/T Fil Visayas and brought to Bacolod City.

The passengers arrived in Iloilo City on board a fast craft vessel yesterday afternoon.

Ybañez said that information relayed to him claimed that strong winds hit the ship and then it listed 35 degrees on its starboard side.

“Apparently, the lashing of the cargoes was disengaged when it listed. By 35 degrees, mahihirapan na talaga siyang makabawi,” the Coast Guard official said.

By 5:00 a.m., the ship’s captain already ordered “abandon ship,” Ybañez said.

An hour later, all passengers and crew members were rescued.

The M/V Asia Malaysia left the Port of Cebu 6 p.m. last Saturday and was scheduled to arrive in Iloilo at 8 a.m. yesterday.

No Advice

As to the timely advice, passengers attested that they heard no warning from any crew member that the vessel was already listing and that they should prepare to abandon the ship.

Rey Panes, 33, a sales agent from Tigbauan, Iloilo, said that he was in Cebu to attend their regular cycle meeting.

Instead of taking a plane, he decided to board a ship because he was carrying 14 heads of game fowls.

By 3:00 a.m., he claimed that he noticed his bunk tilting.

Shortly later, “inayos ko na mga gamit ko. I put my wallet and cellphone inside the plastic,” he said.

When he went out of his cabin, he saw women and children crying and panicking.

“Kanya-kanya na kami ng kuha ng life jacket. By that time, I haven’t heard any advice from the crew members,” he said.

Panes said that at 4 a.m., they were already holding on to the ship’s railings.

“Mga 4:30, handa nang tumalon ‘yung mga kasama namin. I also saw Cokaliong (M/V Filipinas Cebu) from a distance,” he said.

Panes’ statement was also corroborated by Corporal Rogelio Caraecle, 36, of Sara, Iloilo. He is a soldier of the Philippine Army on detached service at the Commission on Audit.

Injured

Of the forty-two passengers brought to Iloilo Port, only one was brought to the hospital.

Jingle Villanueva complained pain and swelling on her back. She was treated at Iloilo St. Paul’s Hospital.

She was with her child, Rain Christian, one year old and seven months, when the incident happened.

It was Corporal Caraecle who carried the infant until they were safely on board M/V Filipinas Cebu.

Aside from Villanueva, no other passenger was reported to have been brought to the hospital.

Tasli statement

The TASLI management, in a press statement sent to The FREEMAN, assured the safety and security of the rescued passengers and that their needs are being attended to.

The management said that to ensure the safety of the passengers, Master Romulado Geraldizo of M/V Asia Malaysia informed the Coast Guard, sent out a distress signal, and ordered the transfer of all the passengers to the responding M/V Filipinas Cebu and LCT Philippine Visayas.

The management added that the Coast Guard in Cebu City cleared the vessel to travel last Saturday as the vessel was carrying passengers and cargo within its capacity.

The shipping firm said that the vessel sailed normally along its course when the unforeseen incident happened.

According to PAGASA-Cebu, the sea water condition of Cebu and Iloilo were only moderate as Typhoon Kabayan was located at 965 km East of Casiguran, Aurora (16.7°N 132.4°E) with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph.

PAGASA weather observer IV Bolivar Arciaga said that even if the sea water condition is moderate, this will be affected if there are thunderstorms. — with Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ (FREEMAN)