Aquinas Disaster: Tombs for unidentified dead to be built today

CEBU, Philippines - The construction of apartment-type tombs for unidentified fatalities of the sinking of the MV St. Thomas Aquinas last August 16 will start today at the Carreta Cemetery.

This was revealed by 2GO SuperCat manager Virgilio Mundo at the regular command conference in Cebu City Hall presided by Mayor Michael Rama along with Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

"Construction is expected to last for about seven to eight days in time for the burial on September 25," Mundo said.

2GO and Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes have pegged the budget for the 35-square-meter structure at P333,804 divided into materials worth P261,804 and labor worth P72,000.

Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes manager Engr. Bong Ebo said 48 remains will be buried there; 47 are unidentified while the other is an identified female casualty which has not been released because the claimants lacked documentary requirements.

"Out of the 47 unidentified, we have one addendum identified body that has not been released to the claimant because of unavailability of legal documents," Ebo said.

The September 25 burial will be attended by local chief executives from Cebu Province, Cebu City, Talisay City, Cordova town and Lapu-Lapu City.

Representatives of agencies and offices that responded to the disaster and took part in the rescue, retrieval, and oil spill cleanup operations will also be present.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office operations head Alvin Santillana said the Mass and burial will be followed by a cocktail at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Social Hall where individuals and groups who have helped in the month-old rescue and recovery operation will be recognized and awarded.

Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station Commander Weniel Azcuna relayed the report of Malayan Towage and Salvage that six tanks on board the MV St. Thomas Aquinas have been emptied of oil and sealed as of Friday.

Malayan Towage Engineer Noel Kimmayong said drilling is ongoing for the siphoning of the five remaining tanks.

"After siphoning all tanks, we will try to extend siphoning oil on trapped corners to reduce possibility of escaping oil," Kimmayong said, adding they have identified three trapped corners with possible oil.

The MV St. Thomas Aquinas sank following a collision with cargo ship M/V Sulpicio Express Siete last month. –(FREEMAN)