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SuperFerry
death toll
fixed at 10
BY VICTOR REYES
RESCUERS yesterday found the body of a female passenger of the ill-fated SuperFerry 9, bringing to 10 the total number of fatalities from the tilting and subsequent sinking of the passenger ship off the waters of Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte last Sunday.
The body, which was wearing a life jacket of SuperFerry 9, was retrieved around 11 a.m. by BRP Romblon, which is among the several ships conducting search and rescue operations, said Commander Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesman.
Balilo also said the Coast Guard is checking reports that fishermen sighted two floating bodies in the Siocon area.
Authorities have said 968 were aboard the ship – 847 passengers, 117 crews and four sea marshals.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council said as of 8 a.m. yesterday, 959 survivors and nine deaths were recorded, meaning all 968 people listed in the manifest have been accounted for.
Balilo, in an interview earlier yesterday, also said they have accounted for all the people aboard the vessel following the rescue of a female passenger by a fishing boat, F/B Champion, on Monday afternoon also in the Siocon area.
Told that the number of survivors and dead has already exceeded the list, Balilo said: "For the meantime, I don’t want to deal with figures. It appears that there is confusion already. Give me some more time to reconcile the figures. I’ll be calling SuperFerry also."
DOUBLE ENTRIES
Pressed on the number of survivors, Balilo said they are going to "reconcile" the figures as there might have been "double entries or mismatches of name."
Adm. Wilfredo Tamayo, Coast Guard commandant, said there appears to be a "double count or double entry."
Tamayo also said three Coast Guard ships are still in the area looking for other possible survivors.
Another ship, the BRP Corregidor, is also in the area preparing for possible oil spill.
SuperFerry 9, according to Coast Guard officials, was loaded with 180 tons of residual fuel oil, 45 tons of special fuel oil.
On Monday, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo reported that one of its ships had seen an oil sleek in the area.
But Rear Adm. Alex Pama, chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said it was an oil sheen, which he said was measuring one mile by four miles. He said an oil sheen is oily debris.
President Arroyo said the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is in charge of the investigations and actions pertaining to the sinking of the SuperFerry 9.
She said the Marina would determine what led to the listing and eventually the sinking of the vessel.
"Mahirap ang maraming ahensya. Too many cooks will spoil the broth. Kung nangangailangan ang Marina ng tulong ng iba, siya ang humingi ng tulong. Pero Marina ang inaatasan natin," she said.
Arroyo’s statement came on the heels of a Senate plan to investigate the incident.
SENATE INQUIRY PUSHED
A resolution filed by administration Sen. Bong Revilla, chair of the Senate public services committee, said an inquiry is needed "to determine the reforms that we should do for our maritime industry."
He said the inquiry should look into the capability of the Marina to determine the seaworthiness of vessels prior to departure.
"Every time the Marina gives a clearance for a ship to sail, it warrants that the ship is safe and seaworthy. It is absurd that sea accidents still happen despite this," he said.
Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros called for the sacking of Marina head Ma. Elena Bautista and Tamayo.
She said the SuperFerry 9 sinking is the second accident under the watch of Bautista and Tamayo.
In June last year, the MV Princess of the Stars operated by Sulpicio Lines capsized in Romblon during a typhoon. At least 800 people died.
"In case they have failed to notice, we are an archipelagic country. We cannot afford to have mediocre maritime agencies. They should be sacked from their jobs," Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros and fellow Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello filed a resolution calling for a House inquiry. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
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