Hoping against hope. Divers stay on search-and-rescue mode.
***
'Go in the Lord's peace' Coast Guard not giving up on
finding more survivors
THE Philippine Coast Guard has accounted for
124 fatalities from the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy as
authorities remain hopeful of recovering more survivors.
In the middle of combined retrieval
operations by Coast Guard and US Navy ships, a Catholic priest
said mass on a Coast Guard tugboat close to the vessel off
Sibuyan island.
As the priest said the closing words "The
Mass is ended, go in peace," weeping relatives threw flowers at
the direction of the vessel where only the tip of its bow was
above water.
Bishops call for justice to
victims, slam Sulpicio invocation of 'act of God'
BY GERARD NAVAL
BISHOP Broderick Pabillo, chair of the
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-National
Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace, yesterday said
nothing less than a "fruitful" investigation would give justice
to victims of the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy.
The auxiliary bishop of Manila said he is
confident that the Board of Marine Inquiry would find out who
are responsible for the sea tragedy.
The BMI started its probe on Wednesday by
questioning officials of Sulpicio Lines.
Son joins
criticism of Biazon
over 'Reagan' remarks
BY PETER TABINGO
SEN. Rodolfo Biazon yesterday received flak
from some congressmen, including his son, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy
Biazon, for questioning the capability of the USS Ronald Reagan
to help in search and retrieval operations for victims of MV
Princess of the Stars.
"I think that the assistance of the United
States, by sending whatever available resources they have, is
worthy of our appreciation. The rescue and recovery of survivors
and fatalities is of utmost importance," the younger Biazon
said.
The elder Biazon has questioned the
nuclear-powered carrier's presence in the country, noting it was
not suited for search and rescue efforts.
