Masbate retrieval operations downgraded to coastal search

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Four days after the ferry M/V Our Lady of Mt. Carmel sank off Burias Island in Masbate, search teams have again downgraded their operations from search and retrieval at sea to coastal retrieval efforts for the seven missing passengers after divers failed to find the shipwreck.

Raffy Alejandro, Bicol director of the Office of Civil Defense based in Camp Gen. Simeon Ola here, said that he ordered the termination of all sea searches and instead shifted to the scouring of coastlines of the nearby villages and islands.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had shifted on Monday its operations from rescue to retrieval as hopes dimmed for the recovery of the missing passengers of the 98.46-gross ton roll on, roll off (RORO) vessel that sank last Friday.

“We decided to do this after the participating SAR teams agreed that the missing passengers were either washed ashore or trapped inside the sunken ferry. Otherwise, if they are dead already, their bodies should have floated by now,” Alejandro told The STAR.

The PCG said there are still seven persons missing, of whom only three were listed in the ship’s manifest: Abigail Barredo, Noan Manocan and Leticia Andaya.

Four are not in the manifest: Fe Rapsing, Jonas Comidor, Arianne Comidor and Jocelyn Danao.

A total of 61 people have been rescued. Two women – Carlota Singa, 57, and Erlinda Jolbitado, 59 – died.

Balilo said that the joint rescue groups from the PCG, Navy and the local governments have scoured a 120-nautical mile radius from the site where the vessel sank.

He said the Masbate Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council had issued an advisory to the different disaster councils down to the barangay level to report any sightings of the missing passengers.

Alejandro said the local Bantay Dagat personnel are leading the retrieval efforts along coastlines and islands near the area where the vessel capsized.

Alejandro’s decision to terminate the sea search was made following the testimonies of survivors who gave the locations of the missing persons before the ship sank.

He said that the missing old woman went to the comfort room while the other missing persons were reportedly sleeping inside the passenger buses that were parked at the ship’s cargo bay when the vessel capsized.

“Those companions of the still missing passengers told us these stories which made us presume that they could have been indeed trapped and sank with the ferry,” Alejandro said.

He said the ship’s owner plans to salvage the sunken ferry but the private shipping firm should shoulder the cost.

“It is up to the owner if they would decided to salvage their ship,” Alejandro said.

He also expressed gratitude to government rescue teams and volunteers for their immediate response in the search and rescue operations.