Woman who jumped off ship body due in Cebu from Leyte

CEBU, Philippines - The woman who jumped off a ship and was missing since Thursday was found dead in Bontoc, Hindang, Leyte last Saturday morning.

Ma. Grethel Palomar Enas, was found lifeless along the seashore of Barangay Bontoc last Saturday by the barangay captain who reported it to the police.

Enas was identified through her wedding ring, class ring, her boat ticket and money. Ma. Gladys Palomar Teves, older sister of the deceased, said they will take care of the funeral and give the best they could for their sister who was reportedly successful, having her own house and lot as well as some retail stores and an internet café.

“At her age, 39 years old, ing-ani iyang na pundar, walay utang, hardworking, (…this was what she had accomplished. She doesn’t have debts and she is hardworking.)” Teves described her sister.

 “Dili pwede nga ang kinabuhi sa akong manghud mahulog lang nya sa wala, (We cannot just let our sister’s life end with nothing,” she added.

Rosalita Palomar, the mother of the deceased, said Enas was a native of Negros Oriental and is the 2nd of 4 siblings. Enas left behind three children. The eldest are girls age 7 and 5 while the youngest is 2-year-old boy. Enas was a graduate of BS Computer Science at the University of the Visayas.

She has been into business since elementary and after resigning from work, she continued her retailing business and has two retail stores, one in Maguikay and the other in Canduman, Mandaue. She also owns an internet café along Maguikay, Mandaue.

Days before her death, Teves said Enas called her and asked permission to go on vacation saying she wanted to relax from the pressures of her business. Enas also asked permission from her mother who reportedly refused and told her to go home to Surigao. She was reportedly uneasy when she went home.

Teves called her relatives in Dinagat Island to fetch Enas. Unfortunately, when Enas arrived in Surigao there were big waves, which was why she just went home that night boarding the same ship to go back to Cebu.

“Si Sr. Inspector Almirante Bacayo ang maka testify ana kay sya mismo ang nahinabi sa akong igsuon sa barko. Depressed nuon kayo ang akong igsuon, pero she is not mentally disturbed, (Chief Inspector Almirante Bacayo can testify because he talked to my sister onboard the ship. My sister was very depressed but she was not mentally disturbed.)” stressed Teves.

In a text message, Sr. Inspector Almirante Bacayo reportedly told Teves that the crew just laughed when they heard of the news. “Mam, naa gyud negligence on the part sa shipping. Katawa raman gane to ang mga crew pagkabuntag nga wala na siya (Enas). Ma’am there really is negligence on the part of the shipping company. The crew just laughed when they found that Enas was gone that morning.”

Almirante together with the man named Rene Bation were reportedly the ones whom Enas spoke with before she jumped from the ship. According to the two, Enas had shouted when the waves grew big, that is why they went near to her. The two reportedly gave Enas some advice when she shared her problems.

Teves also denied that a nurse saw her sister jump from the ship. “Kadtong giingon nila nga naay nurse na nakakita pag-ambak niya, di to tinood. Kay wala jud nakakita pag-ambak niya, (What they said about a nurse seeing her jump from the ship is not true. Nobody saw her jump from the ship.)” added Teves.

 At 4 a.m, when Bation who was just near Enas’ bed woke up, he noticed that she was missing. He called the attention of the ship’s crew. But according to Teves who talked with Bation after the incident, MV Filipinas Maasin didn’t stop for search and rescue operations.

Teves said they closely monitored the ship’s departure and arrival time. They saw no delay of its arrival time.

 “Ang point nako di mag-lax lang kaayo sa work ang mga crew ngadto sa mga pasahero kay sila di magpakabana sa gibati sa mga tao, wa nila tagai ug importansya ang akong igsuon. Known man unta ta mga Filipino sa atong pagka-hospitable, (The crew should not be lax in looking out for their passengers’ feelings. We Filipinos are supposed to be known for being hospitable but they did not give importance to my sister” she added.

Chester Cokaliong, the founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Cokaliong Shipping Lines Incorporated (CSLI), in a text message sent to The FREEMAN, said they are giving the family of Enas P50 thousand. “Although we are not legally obligated to give anything based on the surrounding circumstances, nonetheless, the company is willing to give a financial assistance to the family of the deceased in the amount of P50, 000 to give her a decent burial. — (FREEMAN)