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.
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