Hopes dim for 12 Pinoy seamen

The bodies of three of the 23 crew members of a cargo vessel that capsized off Keelung in Taiwan last Nov. 1, were recovered yesterday, dimming hopes for the survival of the sailors, among them 12 Filipinos.

The 12 Filipinos were identified as Sancho Guico, 47; Roberto Manatad, 47; Ruel Barera, 32; Alberto de la Peña, 35; Jonald Templo, 21; Gil Napano, 33; Ray Pojas, 30; Donato Douglas Sosing, 23; Reynand Pinote, 21; Mharwen Lopez, 22; Marlon Nierva, 25; and Joseph Losa, 29.

Nierva and Losa were to celebrate their birthdays on Nov. 13 and 19, respectively. The other crewmen of Manila Spirit, a Panama-registered vessel, were Indonesians.

Rodolfo Reyes, managing director of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), told The STAR in a telephone interview that the three bodies could not be immediately identified by Taiwanese authorities because they were bloated.

Reyes said MECO got an assurance from Taiwanese officials that the search operations will continue until more bodies are retrieved. — Aurea Calica