M/V Catalyn-B search resumes

MANILA, Philippines - At least three experienced deep-sea divers will lead the team of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) when search and retrieval operations resume today to recover more bodies in the wreckage of M/V Catalyn-B off Cavite.

PCG spokesman Arman Balilo said the team of 20 PCG-Special Operations Group (SOG) divers will be led by three or four expert divers from the Philippine Technical Divers (PhilTech), one of whom is Alex Santos.

“PhilTech said they accepted the job because they believe it was their moral obligation and for this assignment, they would only be paid for their equipment. They would be rendering their services for free. This would be at minimum cost to San Nicholas Shipping Lines, who hired them,” Balilo said.

San Nicholas is the owner of the ill-fated wooden-hulled passenger vessel.

Balilo said this is the first time that the PCG will be working with Santos, a seasoned deep-sea diver who has conducted training in technical diving in Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and other Asian countries.

Even if one of its divers, Petty Officer 3 Arman Bonifacio, 42, died in their Jan. 8 operation, the PCG said all of its SOG’s 20 divers still volunteered for the job.

“None of them backed out,” PCG-National Capital Region-Central Luzon district commander Commodore Luis Tuason Jr. said.

Balilo said this was the first time, since the PCG was separated from the Philippine Navy in 1998, “have we encountered a casualty during our retrieval operation.”

Until yesterday afternoon, the PCG has not yet received the autopsy report that would shed light on Bonifacio’s death.

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo will bestow the Distinguished Coast Guard Cross, the highest PCG award, to Bonifacio for heroism and posthumously promote him to the rank of Petty Officer 3. Bonifacio’s wife Marabel will receive the award.

Bonifacio’s remains will be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

His family is entitled to receive financial assistance in terms of burial assistance, six-month gross pay, PCG Mutual Assistance System and other benefits.

They will also receive his commutation of leave benefits equivalent to 18 years of service.

Tamayo is also working on providing scholarship for Bonifacio’s 11-year-old son Alvin Bernie.