Two cases filed against Sulpicio Lines

CEBU - Civil cases for damages continue to pour in against the Sulpicio Lines Incorporated five months after the MV Princess of the Stars capsized at the height of Typhoon Frank in the seawaters off Sibuyan Island.

A wife of a seaman filed the 35th damage suit against the shipping firm and its corporate officials, demanding more than P17 million in actual and compensatory damages before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City.

Baby Lyn Bejona of barangay Poblacion Dalaguete, Cebu accused the shipping company of being negligent that resulted in the untimely demise of her husband.

Bejona said her husband Pablito was on his way home to Cebu after a medical examination in Manila when the incident happened. Pablito was scheduled to leave for overseas employment.

Though she admitted having received P200,000 and was made to sign a quit claim, Bejona said it was for the insurance benefits of her husband from the Oriental Assurance Corporation.

According to Bejona, the document she signed has no force and effect because it was contrary to morals and public policy.

“Defendants are liable for negligence and breach of contract of carriage when it failed to exercise extraordinary diligence in transporting its passengers to their destination in Cebu,” Bejona said in her petition for damages.

Bejona said her husband was only 39 years old at the time of his death and was earning $1,090.62 monthly or P52,349.76 as overseas seaman.

She said that the shipping company’s negligence has deprived her family P17.2 million, which is the total earnings of her husband that she is demanding to be paid as actual damages.

On top of it, Bejona is likewise demanding P800,000 in moral and exemplary damages, excluding the 20 percent of the total damages to be awarded by the court as attorney’s fee.

A wife of an oiler also filed a multi-million peso damage suit against Sulpicio Lines Incorporated yesterday.

Perlita Sanguenza of Tontonan, Loon Bohol filed a P5.221 million damage suit against the shipping company and the ship captain for the loss of her husband Lucrecio, who is contracted to work as an “oiler” of an international shipping company.

Named defendants were Sulpicio Lines Inc, Ship Captain Florenacio Marimon and its shipping officials SLI President Enrique Go and Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Go.

Victims' kin lament as Sulpicio breaks word on ‘Princess’ salvage job

MANILA, Philippines - Kin of victims who perished in the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy face a bleak Christmas as there are no takers have yet to surface for the last part of the salvage job on the ill-fated vessel.

Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo admitted Sulpicio Lines Inc. has yet to contract a salvage firm for the last salvage stage.

Tamayo said he has communicated with Sulpicio and reminded it of its promise to get the shipwreck off Romblon before Christmas.

Kin of the victims twitted the ship's owner Sulpicio Lines Inc. for breaking its promise to retrieve their loved ones' remains and get the shipwreck out of the Romblon area before Christmas.

Levi Samuel, a spokesman for the relatives, reminded Sulpicio of its promise earlier this year to retrieve the remains of their loved ones and to remove the shipwreck before Christmas.

The MV Princess of the Stars capsized off Romblon after encountering stormy weather at the height of typhoon Frank last June.

Samuel lamented that Sulpicio chose the last part of the salvage operations to "falter" on its promise.

Earlier, kin of the victims scored the sudden silence of Sulpicio on efforts to retrieve the remains of their loved ones.

Samuel reminded Sulpicio and government authorities of their promise to retrieve the remains of all 500-plus victims from the wreck.

He said some of them had already accepted the possibility the retrieval of remains will not be completed in time for Christmas.

3 PCG officials face jail term for 'MV Princess of the Stars' tragedy

MANILA, Philippines - Three ranking Coast Guard officials face dismissal from the service and a six-year jail term as the Ombudsman endorsed a complaint against them over the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy.

The Office of the Ombudsman said it’s Field Investigation Office (OMB-FIO) endorsed for preliminary investigation the complaint filed against the three.

It identified the respondents as Luis Tuazon, Commander for Metro Manila and Central Luzon; Erwin Balagas, commander for Manila and Felix Rizalde Sardan, Petty Officer I, of the Coast guard Manila station.

"(The three) have acted at the very least gross inexcusable negligence when they failed to perform faithfully the duties they are required to do during the occurrence of typhoon Frank. Their acts caused undue injury to the people of Romblon whose lives and livelihood were gravely affected, to the marine environment whose fragile ecosystem was gravely endangered, to the bereaved families who lost their love ones when MV Princess of the Stars sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon, and above all to public safety and national interest," assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni, chief of the Ombudsman Field Investigation Office said in an article on the Ombudsman website.

The respondents face dismissal from the service and imprisonment for six years if found guilty of the administrative and criminal charges, the Ombudsman said.

The officials were charged with violating the anti-graft law, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

In its report, the OMBFIO said the three did not faithfully perform their duties and responsibilities in the enforcement of maritime safety laws.

It cited PCG Memorandum Circular No. 04-07, which bars vessels from sailing except to take shelter if Public Storm Warning 3 is hoisted within its point of origin, route and point of destination.

Under the circular, the three commanders were responsible for monitoring the prevailing weather conditions and plotting in the weather to chart the forecast position of the typhoon.

The OMBFIO report added that the respondents allowed the vessel to sail for Cebu on 20 June 2008, despite warning signals issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Also, it said they failed to monitor the movement of typhoon Frank and plot the danger sector from the path of the typhoon, which would have made them realize that the MV Princess of the Stars was not moving away but moving toward a collision course with the eye of the typhoon.

 

- GMANews.TV

Coast Guard to fully cooperate in Ombudsman probe into ‘MV Princess of the Stars’ tragedy

MANILA, Philippines - The Coast Guard on Thursday said it will fully cooperate in the Ombudsman's investigation into the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy.

Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said he has ordered the agency's legal department to prepare documents needed in the investigation.

Tamayo also said he has ordered the officials concerned to prepare themselves for investigation, though he said he has yet to receive a formal summons from the Ombudsman's field investigating office.

The MV Princess of the Stars capsized off Romblon last June 21 at the height of Typhoon Frank.

 

- GMANews.TV

Divers in ‘Princess’ retrieval ops to undergo debriefing

MANILA, Philippines - The 17 divers of salvor firm Harbor Star are set to undergo psycho-debriefing tests Wednesday to ensure that they are free from mental stress for their involvement in search and retrieval operations inside the capsized MV Princess of the Stars in Romblon.

Doctors from the Department of Health (DOH) will conduct the psycho-debriefing procedures at the Harbor Star office in Makati City.

“The purpose of the psycho-debriefing is to assess the health condition of the divers and to make sure that they are not suffering from mental stress,” said Rodrigo Bella, Harbor Star project manager.

Bella said phase two of the operations, which was the removal of the bodies from the ill-fated ship, was “a very unusual experience” for the drivers. The said phase lasted for 16 days wherein 199 bodies were retrieved from the ship.

"They (divers) went through all the possible areas with passengers including the navigational deck, chapel and mini-theater for possible human remains. That is why there is a need for them to undergo a debriefing process," Bella said.

Aside from psycho-debriefing tests, the divers will also be provided two-day vacations courtesy of the company. Bella said this would be done in batches.

MV Princess of the Stars, owned and operated by Sulpicio Lines Inc., capsized off Sibayan Island at the height of typhoon “Frank” last June 21. It was carrying 864 passengers and crews.

Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) chief Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said they would review the report submitted by Harbor Star to ensure that phase two had covered all areas.

"We would evaluate the completion report, to determine if we are satisfied with the phase two."

Tamayo earlier said that even if Harbor Star terminated its search and recovery operations last Nov. 10, he had appealed to Sulpicio Lines Inc. to exhaust all possible means to find other bodies.

"If it is possible, they could still integrate the search for the bodies in phase three," he said, referring to planned retrieval of the main ship from Romblon waters.

 

- GMANews.TV

Salvage firm claims ‘MV Princess of the Stars’ operations completed; PCG not satisfied

A salvage firm contracted to retrieve remains of passengers of the capsized MV Princess of the Stars formally reported Monday it has completed its search for victims still trapped in the ship, but still failed to satisfy the Coast Guard.

Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo instructed Harbor Star to continue searching for remains of passengers aboard the ship.

Harbor Star is the firm contracted by Sulpicio Lines Inc., owner of the capsized vessel, to retrieve chemicals and remains of passengers from the ship.

Tamayo said he was not satisfied with the 199 passengers recovered by Harbor Star, saying more than 500 were missing when the ship capsized last June at the height of typhoon "Frank."

In its report submitted to Tamayo, Harbor Star said it had searched all possible passengers' spaces, including Decks A, B and C, and the navigation bridge, theater, and dining area.

On the other hand, Tamayo reminded Harbor Star to submit its salvage plans to remove the shipwreck from the Romblon area.

Until the shipwreck is removed, he added, the Coast Guard will keep its oil spill response team at Sibuyan Island in Romblon.

Retrieved bodies from MV Princess in Cebu today

CEBU CITY — Some 127 bodies and body parts retrieved from the capsized MV Princess of the Stars are expected to be brought today to Cebu City from Sibuyan Island in Romblon, authorities said.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the city is ready for the arrival of the bodies that were retrieved in the capsized vessel.

He expressed sadness over the fact that the retrieval operation recovered only less than half of the expected 500 bodies trapped in the vessel.

"If the salvaging team decides to end its operations, Sulpicio Lines and other agencies concerned should explain to the families of the still missing victims why the choose to discontinue the retrieval," Rama said.

The salvage company, Harbor Star, said the advanced decomposition of the bodies in the vessel due to sea water made the recovery very hard. The presence of endosulfan also delayed the retrieval operations.

Rama said, however, the city government has already mapped out plans for the arrival of the bodies and body parts that were retrieved from the capsized MV Princess of the Stars.

Rama said Cebuanos need not worry about health concerns with the arrival of the bodies and body parts, noting that the Department of Health (DoH) has assured the city government that the bodies that will be brought to Cebu are not contaminated with the poisonous chemical endosulfan.

"The city is ready, and the DoH has assured us that the bodies are not contaminated and will not pose any health risk to the Cebuanos," said Rama.

The recovered remains will be stored in the mobile morgue facilities prepared by the Disaster Victims Identification (DVI) unit located at the Cebu International Port.

Samples of the recovered bodies would then be sent to Sarajevo, Bosnia for DNA testing to identify the victims.

Supt. Anthony Obenza, chief of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime-Visayas Field Office and PRO 7 information officer, said preparations for the arrival of the dead bodies are already under way.

Meanwhile, Rama advised the families and relatives of those still missing not to travel yet to Cebu pending the identification of the bodies.

Rama said it would be useless for families to go to the port area in Cebu where the mobile morgue is situated because they will not be allowed to enter the compound.

He said relatives and families should instead wait for an official call from the Disaster Victim Identification Team, composed of the International Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, to claim the bodies of their loved ones.

There were 850 passengers and crew members on board when the Stars capsized in the waters off Sibuyan Island in Romblon last June 21. Thirty were reported to have survived the tragedy.

‘MV Princess of the Stars’ salvage firm fails to meet deadline

MANILA, Philippines - A salvage firm retrieving bodies from the capsized MV Princess of the Stars admitted it will no longer be able to meet its Thursday deadline to retrieve all the remaining passengers trapped inside the vessel.

Radio dzBB's Teresa Tavares reported that Harbor Star officials said they still need to scour Deck A of the ill-fated vessel on Friday, a day after the deadline lapses.

The firm said debris got in the way of divers looking for remains to retrieve.

More than 500 passengers remain trapped in the vessel, which capsized off Romblon last June 21 at the height of Typhoon Frank.

As of Thursday noon, the report said the remains of 165 passengers had been retrieved.

Biazon: US carrier not for rescue, recovery operations

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Rodolfo Biazon Wednesday questioned the US government’s deployment of an aircraft carrier to help in the search for survivors of the capsized MV Princess of the Stars and the retrieval of bodies trapped in the vessel.

“An aircraft carrier is not designed for salvage. The USS Ronald Reagan is a strategic and combat vessel whose main assets are aircraft, F-18s. What will the F-18s do for the recovery [efforts]?” Biazon, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces, said in a press conference.

He said the US government should have sent smaller ships with a crane instead.

Biazon also said that while the deployment of the aircraft carrier showed the US government’s readiness to lend a helping hand, “I don’t think it can do anything to really assist the Philippine government in having to do what has to be done.”

The Ronald Reagan strike group consists of the carrier, a cruiser, three destroyers and a frigate. The group left about 100 American sailors behind in Hong Kong when it had to depart port on Sunday, a day early, because of safety concerns related to Typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen).

The aircraft carrier has about 6,000 sailors aboard.

“The carrier group will support immediate rescue, recovery and disaster relief efforts being carried out by Philippine authorities in the aftermath of Typhoon Frank,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

Happy to do it

US President George W. Bush announced the deployment of the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan after a meeting on Tuesday with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the White House.

“We’re happy to do it,” Bush said. “We want to help our friends in a time of need.”

Nuclear-powered

“[Its] arrival in the … Philippines exemplifies the longstanding ties between the United States and the Philippines and the US commitment to assisting the Philippines, in keeping with our mutual commitments under the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty,” the embassy said.

But Biazon also questioned whether the USS Ronald Reagan should be allowed to enter Philippine seas if it had nuclear weapons on board.

The Philippine Constitution bars the entry of nuclear weapons into the country, he pointed out.

Anthony Golez, Ms Arroyo’s deputy spokesperson, said the deployment of the aircraft carrier would not violate the Constitution, which states that “the Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.”

“Ever mindful of the prohibition, the President made it to a point that the carrier group will not be bringing nuclear weapons in consonance with the policy of freedom from nuclear weapons,” Golez said in Malacañang.

He said the USS Ronald Reagan was “only nuclear-powered.”

“We would like to stress the humanitarian focus of this aid accepted by the President, which is of primary national interest given the current situation,” Golez said.

The senator has earlier called for a Senate investigation of the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars on Saturday off Sibuyan Island in Romblon province.

He has directed the Philippine Navy’s flag officer in command to check if the ship’s heavy cargo was latched and whether its log book was preserved, and to recover its captain, first officer and chief mate.

Largest, newest

The US Embassy described the USS Ronald Reagan as “the largest and newest of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.”

“Its on-board aircraft are able to assist with transportation of cargo, aerial damage assessment, and support search-and-rescue operations,” the embassy said, adding:

“Under the direction of Philippine disaster relief authorities, USS Ronald Reagan personnel may provide assistance including aircraft support, production and delivery of potable water, medical assistance activities, and machinery repair.”

The USS Ronald Reagan’s carrier group includes the cruiser USS Chancellorsville, the destroyers USS Decatur, USS Gridley, and USS Howard, the frigate USS Thach, and other supporting vessels, the embassy said.

“The USNS Stockham and US Navy P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft continue to provide support, and US Navy divers are assisting Philippine personnel with rescue and recovery efforts on the capsized MV Princess of the Stars,” it said.

Had she stayed home …

Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez, chair of the House committee on trade, said the deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan would not have been possible without Ms Arroyo’s presence in Washington.

Had she stayed home, “the biggest aircraft carrier built would not have been ordered to go to Romblon,” Alvarez said.

“But because she was able to personally appeal for help to President Bush, a ship whose air assets are more than (those in) the ASEAN nations combined will now be helping in relief and rescue work,” he said.

Alvarez said the US government was sending over a carrier group bigger than what it had sent to Burma (Myanmar) and China, “whose cyclone and earthquake fatalities, respectively, dwarf the loss of lives caused by Typhoon Frank.”

Between Arroyo hug & GI Joes

“On this score alone, not mentioning the other aid and investment packages [Ms Arroyo] will be bringing home, the US trip is now worth it,” he said.

The lawmaker also said it was “perhaps providential” that Ms Arroyo was in the United States when the typhoon hit.

He said Ms Arroyo’s personal request for help “elicited a response more magnanimous than one solicited long distance.”

“What would we have preferred? A presidential shoulder to cry on, or a thousand helping hands from a US carrier group who can help victims?” Alvarez said.

Pesticide found inside ferry; search stopped

MANILA, Philippines -- Ten metric tons of pesticide were found inside the capsized M/V Princess of the Stars, prompting authorities to halt rescue and retrieval operations, officials said.

"Delikado, inabort namin ang retrieval, wala munang divers dahil sa problema ng pesticide [It’s dangerous, we aborted the retrieval, we stopped the divers because of the problem with pesticide]," Vice President Noli De Castro told a news conference at the Department of National Defense Friday.

De Castro said the pesticide cargo belonged to Del Monte Philippines.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said there were "no observable signs of contamination" from the pesticide, such as fish kill. He said 10 metric tons of the pesticide was in the ship.

But Dr. Lyn Panganiban of the University of the Philippines Toxicology Department, when asked what could happen if all of the 10 metric tons of pesticide would spill into sea, said, “It can be a catastrophe. It is a highly hazardous and toxic chemical.”

Divers struggle with bodies in Philippine ferry

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines (AP) — Divers having difficulty removing bodies from a capsized ferry were forced to use heavy weights to help pull the dead out of the upside-down vessel, Philippine officials said Thursday.

The bodies had floated to the top of the submerged cabins and compartments on the seven-story ferry, Coast Guard Commodore Luis Tuason said. Divers were struggling to pull the bloated bodies through narrow, debris-filled corridors to exit the vessel.

It remains unclear how many of the 850-plus passengers and crew were trapped when the 23,824-ton Princess of the Stars suddenly listed and went belly up in a half-hour or less during a powerful typhoon Saturday, leaving just the tip of the bow jutting from the water.

Only 56 survivors have been found, while 124 bodies have been recovered after washing ashore or spotted floating in the sea, some in life jackets, Coast Guard Commander Danilo Avila said.

The ferry disaster could raise Typhoon Fengshen's death toll to more than 1,500, with 394 people confirmed dead from flooding and landslides and more than 330 missing.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said Thursday $7.9 million is needed to provide around 400,000 storm victims with clean water, emergency shelters and other relief items over the next 3 months.

The Red Cross said 435 people are still missing, and more than 106,000 homes are destroyed or badly damaged.

The aftermath of the storm kept rescue workers away until calm conditions Tuesday allowed divers to slither inside the ferry for the first time.

More than 100 divers, including eight U.S. military frogmen, were at the site, some working through the night Wednesday in the hope that some passengers could have found an air pocket and survived.

Tuason said Coast Guard rescuers were instructed Thursday to take photos of the decomposing bodies to help in the identification process. He initially indicated the bodies were being photographed inside the ferry, but later said the process was to be conducted after the bodies were laboriously secured.

The Coast Guard later rescinded the order on instructions from higher-level officials, apparently due to sensitivities over the issue.

Relatives have questioned why the ship was allowed to leave Manila late Friday for a 20-hour trip to Cebu with a typhoon approaching. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered a thorough probe and said she hoped to find ways to avoid similar accidents in the future.

Sulpicio Lines said the ferry sailed with Coast Guard approval. Debate also began anew on safe-sailing rules in a country prone to storms — Fengshen was the seventh typhoon this year — and dependent on ferries to get around the sprawling archipelago.

Sulpicio to bring to Manila bodies found in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY -- Anticipating the recovery of more bodies in Bicol Thursday with the discovery of at least 115 at mid-sea between Burias Island and Camarines provinces Wednesday night, the Task Force Princess of the Stars will set up a holding area for the recovered bodies in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, an official said.

The Task Force Princess of the Stars will also put up a command post
near the holding area to coordinate the transport of the recovered bodies to Manila, said Raffy Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense director in Bicol.

Alejandro said the Sulpicio Lines, Inc., which owns the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, will dispatch a ship to dock at the Pasacao Port to pick up the bodies and carry them to Manila for identification by their families.

He said Transportation undersecretary Elena Bautista, head of the task
force, instructed local government units not to bury the bodies recovered.

Bautista, in a television interview around 10 p.m. Wednesday, confirmed that 115 bodies were sighted off the shores of Burias Island in Masbate and Camarines Sur.

"We instructed local government officials to report bodies being retrieved to the nearest police station or tap local funeral services available," Alejandro said in a mobile phone interview.

He said the bodies would be gathered in Pasacao town and will be brought to Manila by batches.

Even those temporarily buried on Burias Island might be brought to Pasacao town as well, he added.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said only 48 survivors had been found so far, out of the ferry's 862 passengers and crew on board. As of posting time, 70 fatalities have been recorded and 744 remain unaccounted for.

The Philippine Coast Guard in Bicol reported Wednesday to have
recovered 57 bodies, but only three of which were identified as passengers of the sunken ferry. The rest were from 12 fishing boats and one cargo vessel.

It also reported that 79 survivors were rescued.

Jeffrey Collado, Bicol Coast Guard operations assistant, said fishing boats South Sea, Nicol Louise 2, Fatima, Ludith, Sea Quest, Hagibis 2, Paday, Jisille, Mercury, Eugene, Laura Roldan, and Sweet Angel 1 and cargo vessel M/V Paway all capsized at the height of typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen).

He said 188 persons were still missing from the vessel and boats.

115 bodies spotted in Burias, Camarines Sur - DOTC exec

S earchers scouring the areas near Sibuyan Island where the MV Princess of the Stars capsized have reported seeing 115 bodies floating near the province of Camarines Sur and Burias Island in Masbate.

A television report aired Wednesday night quoted a Philippine transportation official who said that the figure of 115 bodies was different from the 115 figure reported Tuesday.

"As of 9:30 p.m. today, we have sightings of 115 bodies somewhere in the vicinity between Burias Island and Camarines Sur and 15 bodies in the bridge level of the sunken vessel," Transportation undersecretary for Maritime Transport Elena Bautista said.

She was referring to the bridge section of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars which capsized off Sibuyan Island near Romblon where divers saw 15 bodies trapped.

"I'd like to stress that these are sightings and we still have to retrieve the actual bodies,"Bautista, who was interviewed over QTV's News on Q, added.

Of the 115 spotted near Camarines and Burias, seven have been recovered while only five were retrieved out of the 15 bodies trapped inside the MV Princess of the Stars bridge.

Bautista, who is also the head of Task Force 'Princess of Stars,' also said that authorities were still not sure if the 115 bodies spotted Wednesday came from the capsized ship.

Of the 115 bodies - all from the MV Princess of the Stars - recovered on Tuesday, 48 were survivors while 67 were fatalities.

An earlier report said that most of the bodies spotted Wednesday was based on sightings made by US planes which have been scouring the area for survivors.

The death toll of Typhoon Frank - based on National Disaster Coordinating Committee' latest data - was pegged at 288 people killed, 45 missing and another 165 injured.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said some 135 fishing vessels from Regions 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 sank at the height of typhoon Frank.

The sinking of the vessels resulted in the deaths of 10 fishermen and the rescue of 128 people.

However, another 137 seamen are still reported missing.

A ship which got caught in the typhoon - the MV Lake of Paoay - was carrying some 5,000 metric tons of coal from Semirara island to Toledo in Cebu City when it sank of the coasts of Carles in Iloilo.

Of its 30 passengers, four survivors were rescued but 19 others remain missing.

Presidential assistant for Western Visayas Raul Barias said Carles residents have expressed concern over the oil that started to leak from the sunken cargo vessel.

Barias said they are monitoring the developments closely as they prepare for clearing operations.

For her part, President Arroyo ordered the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to conduct a "systematic needs assessment" and to properly coordinate it with the United Nations following the expected downpour of aid from the international community.

Arroyo issued the directive during a video conference with members of the Cabinet and NDCC who were in Malacañang around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Manila.

The President said foreign leaders have already started to pledge aid.

She cited the offer of Hawaii governor Linda Lingle to send the National Guard stationed in Hawaii to help in search and rescue operations, and the offer of Spain which "has come forward and presented itself to help the country in its search and rescue efforts".

"You have to do the Needs Assessment systematically and apprise the different countries, knowing their respective capabilities," she said.

She added that there was a need for the country to inform international donors of specific requirements "to facilitate the immediate deployment of the respective country's pledge of aid".

Divers Find More Bodies

Divers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy (PN) recovered six more bodies on Thursday afternoon from the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars which capsized off the waters of Sibuyan Island in Romblon on Saturday. The number of bodies recovered rose to 130.

As of 7 a.m. Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said the number of survivors rose to 56.

Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, PCG commandant, said search and rescue and retrieval operations will continue as he appealed to relatives of the crews and passengers for understanding.

'The PCG and Navy divers are exhausted but exhaustion will not stop us to continue the operations,'
said Tamayo.

Tamayo appealed to the lawmakers for the passage of law to equip the PCG with global maritime distress and safety system.

'In 1999, the DOTC acquired a global maritime distress and safety system. We could have prevented many accidents had the PCG ably used the system. The DOTC provided the PCG of this kind of system but due to legal issues surrounding the contract for the acquisition, the Coast Guard was not able to use this (equipment). Hindi namin nabuksan ito, nabulok na lang and we think this is outdated na. With this system, the PCG can monitor vessels while sailing and can give instructions during distress and many accidents could have prevented if we have this kind of system,' Balilo said.

Meanwhile, the Sulpicio Lines (SLI) has sent Wednesday another one of its vessel, M/V Cagayan Princess, to help in the retrieval operations of the remaining bodies and rescue of survivors of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars which capsized off the waters of Sibuyan Island in Romblon, Saturday.

In a press statement issued to the media, Lawyer Vic-Vic Florido, SLI spokesperson, disclosed the shipping company has been involved in the rescue operations from Day 1. It is continuously coordinating and cooperating with several government agencies involved in the operations including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Philippine Navy (PN), Marina, and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the lead agency which is under the Department of Transportation and Communication to alleviate the ordeal of the victims and their families.

She said SLI has been conducting intensive search and rescue operations in coordination with, and under the leadership, of the PCG.

SLI initially dispatched two tugboats from Malayan Salvage and towage company and their M/V Cebu Princes last Sunday to help in the rescue of survivors and recover the casualties.

She said SLI also bought diving equipment, body bags, formalin, lime powder, and other supplies needed in the ongoing retrieval and rescue operations.

'Sulpicio Lines has not been remiss in its obligations to help all the victims and their families. We are doing everything to ease the burden wrought by the sinking of the ship due to typhoon Frank,' stressed Florido.

Immediately after the sea mishap, Florido asserted that SLI had already adopted specific measures to address the plight of those affected.

Sulpicio has set up public assistance and help desks in its Manila and Cebu offices, respectively, to address the concerns of relatives and loved ones of passengers and crew members aboard the ship.

Florido said meals are served to people who troop to the Sulpicio Lines offices while awaiting the latest news about their loved ones who were either passengers or crew members of the ill-fated ship.

At the same time, Florido sought for understanding in the process because of some 'unscrupulous individuals' who are taking advantage of this tragedy.

'We are making some validations,' added Florido as she assured Sulpicio Lines is exerting their best efforts and will not turn their backs on their obligations.

She guaranteed that Sulpicio will shoulder the transport of the bodies to their respective places, and the burial, but 'this has to undergo a process which include, among others, the presentation of all pertinent documents for proper identification.'

She said the shipping company commiserated with the victims and their relatives, and expressed their deepest sympathy to them.

Meanwhile, Sulpicio Lines, the country's biggest shipping company, extends their gratitude to the people who have been patronizing them for the past several years.

At the time of the accident, it was carrying more than 800 passengers and crew belying reports that it was overloaded. It has a capacity of more than 1,992 passengers. (Balita Pinoy - Philippine News & Analysis)

NDCC confirms 57 survivors, 20 dead from ferry sinking

Officials of the National Disaster Coordinating Council and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday evening that the number of survivors from the ill-fated Sulpicio Lines ferry MV Princess of the Star had risen to 57.

The number of confirmed deaths, on the other hand, rose to 20, after 16 bodies washed on shore, were recovered, also on Monday, the officials said.

A list released by the NDCC Monday evening listed the survivors as: Jessie Buot, Reynaldo Lanurias, Jesus Gica, Oliver, Amorin, Rey Paguin (Cebu), Danilo Deplanas (Cebu), Richie Tayuntong (Cebu), Gerry Palenor (Cebu), Philip Vasquez (Cebu), Uriel Laguban (Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur), Ralph Alain dela Peña (Cebu), Carlo Jason Aravis (Cebu), Rodel Laborte (Cebu), Phil Gilig (Cebu), Jose Marie Garbo (Cebu), Niño Lauros (Cebu), Rupert Tan (Cagayan de Oro City), Ciriaco Nuñez (Cebu), Fausto Colis (Bicol), Francisco Batula (Cubao); Vicente Beruas (San Mateo, Rizal);

Reynante Adina (Cebu), Exuperto Pendon (Cebu), Jonathan Pendon (Cebu), Susan Lisbo (Novaliches, Quezon City), Minerva Toremucha (Bohol), Antonio Cosep (Bantayan, Cebu), Ronnie Relatibo (Malate, Manila), Ruel Libot (Apas, Cebu); Estanislao Tura Jr. (Bantayan, Cebu), Nilo Dayogo (San Pedro, Laguna); and Jesserey Bianco (Cebu).

A list of survivors as well as the manifest of the ill-fated ferry is also available at the Sulpicio Lines website www.sulpiciolines.com.

The shipping line has also assigned the following Manila hotline numbers -- 3821456 and 4745205 (look for Carmela or Maricar) -- for inquiries on casualties and survivors of the mishap.

The Philippine Coast Guard identified one of the fatalities as Julie Q. Mendoza and said at least two of the recovered dead were children.

The Princess of the Star, carrying 849 passengers and crew, stalled due to engine trouble and capsized amid huge waves off the central province of Romblon on Saturday, the height of the onslaught of typhoon "Frank" (international codename: Fengshen), officials have said.

On Monday, twenty-eight survivors and a fatality were found in a lifeboat on the shoreline of Mulanay town in Quezon province, Commodore Luis Tuason, chief of the Metro Manila Coast Guard said.

On the same day, 25 survivors and 15 fatalities were found on the shores of Burias Island in Masbate province, said Captain Gilbert Rueras, who represented the Coast Guard at the NDCC's Monday evening news briefing.

Quoting a local official, NDCC executive director Anthony Golez said the survivors were onboard life boats and were wearing life vests.

Mulanay and Burias Island are located northeast of the capsized vessel.

Four survivors and four fatalities were found washed ashore in San Fernando town, Romblon on Sunday, officials said.

Search and rescue operations of the Philippine Navy (PN) were suspended for the night due to big waves and the lack of night-capable equipment, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo said.

It could not be immediately confirmed if the Coast Guard was also suspending its search for the night since the bad weather could endanger the lives of the rescuers.

"We'll stop for the moment because of the big waves and because we don't have night-capable equipment," Arevalo said in a phone interview.

The Navy's Patrol Ship 28, carrying rescue divers, medical equipment, and cadaver bags, will arrive on the scene early Tuesday, he said.

In an earlier interview, Arevalo said there were "no signs of life" after rescuers scoured the vicinity of the capsized ship on Monday morning.

"We approached the ship, we knocked on it [hull] in order to give us a sign if ever somebody is inside, [to tell them that somebody is outside to help them. We were hoping someone would knock [from the inside], unfortunately, there was none," he said.

Meanwhile, the official casualty count due to floods triggered by "Frank" rose to 100 deaths, 63 of these confirmed, and 121 injured, Health undersecretary Mario Villaverde told the same NDCC briefing.

US ship to help rescue ill-fated ferry's passengers

A United States navy ship with rescue helicopters is on its way to Romblon province to help rescue efforts for possible survivors from the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, Sen. Richard Gordon said Monday.

Gordon, who is also Philippine National Red Cross chairman, said Vice President Noli de Castro confirmed to him that the US government has ordered one of its Navy ships to head to the Philippines and help the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy look for survivors and bodies of the sunken ferry.

The ship was expected to arrive in Philippine waters either Monday or early Tuesday.

The senator, meanwhile, said a total of 141 fatalities of typhoon Frank have been confirmed by the Philippine National Red Cross. He clarified that the Red Cross announces its tally only after their officials and members had seen the bodies.

The senator, however, did not clarify if the Red Cross's death toll includes the fatalities from the sunken ship.

The MV Princess of the Stars went down at around noon Saturday several kilometres off the coast of central Sibuyan Island in Romblon after being battered by huge waves when its engines failed, officials said.

President Arroyo demanded on Sunday to know why the ferry was given clearance to leave Manila on Friday with a typhoon fast approaching.

A coast guard official has said the Princess of the Stars was cleared to leave for Cebu island shortly before the typhoon changed its course.

With the typhoon approaching, the captain was instructed to take shelter and "attempted to do that," the official said.

However, the engine failed and the almost 24,000-ton vessel was left stranded in waters off Sibuyan's southeast coast.

28 survivors named

Some 28 survivors of the ill-fated ferry had been identified by authorities.

Several of the survivors rescued in Mulanay, Quezon on Sunday were Rey Paquin, Danilo Deplansa, Richelle Tayuntong, Gerry Pelenor, Philip Vasquez, Ralph Alain de la Peña, Carlo Jason Aravis, Rodel Caborte, Philip Gilig, Jose Marie Garbo, Ciriaco Nuñez, Reynante Tadena, Imperio Pendun, Jonathan Pendun, Antonio Cosepp, Ruel Libot, Estanislao Terra Jr., Jessie Ray Blanco, all residents of Cebu.

The others were Uriell Luguban of Zamboanga del Sur, Niño Lauros of Bohol, Ruperta Yan of Cagayan de Oro City, Fausto Colis of Bicol region, Francisco Batola of Cubao, Quezon City, Vicente Bernas of San Mateo town in Rizal province, Susan Lesbo of Novaliches, Quezon City, Minerva Torecacha of Bohol, Ronnie Relativo of Makati City, and Nilo Daygo of San Pedro, Laguna.

Senior Superintendent Fidel Posadas, Quezon Police Provincial Office director, said fishermen were also able to rescue two more ferry passengers in Catanauan town. Posadas identified the two as Alex Eleuterio Kipti and Rene de la Cruz Graciano, both residents of Barangay Mabini, San Pascual town in Masbate province.

Marlon Rosas of Romblon province, meanwhile, said he and other residents were also able to rescue four ferry passengers. He identified them as Oliver Amorin of Lapu-Lapu City, Jessie Buot of Siquijor Island, Renato Lanoria of Bantayan, Cebu, and another man from Mandaue City.

The victims were also on board the ferry when it left North Harbor in Manila on Friday. It sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon province on Saturday.

The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy have launched rescue operations in waters off Romblon and Quezon provinces.

The Department of Transportation and Communications has ordered all ferries of Sulpicio Lines grounded because of an ongoing inquiry of the Board of Marines regarding the latest ferry sinking.

Transport Undersecretary Elena Bautista claimed Sulpicio Lines was responsible for the sinking of the ferry. "Definitely Sulpicio Lines is responsible here," Bautista told reporters.