LUCENA CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recovered another lifeless body of a person believed to be a passenger of a cargo vessel that sank in the vicinity of Dos Hermanas Islands, Romblon province last Sunday, bringing the total number of fatalities from the incident to two.
Rescuers found the cadaver of Clenton Jaye Benegla, 22, in Catanauan, Quezon today. Benegla, of Cebu City, is the second reported fatality following Meneo Wenceslao, the ship’s engineer.
Meanwhile, ship captain Julieto Cortemios, crane operator Jerry Cortez, and Joseph Jabonite were rescued. Cortemios and Cortes were rescued in the shore of this town, while Jabonite was found in the nearby town of Catanauan.
The three survivors were rushed to the General Luna Health Center for treatment.
According to Lt. Joel Ogorida, PCG commander of Quezon and Marinduque area, M/V SF Freighter, a cargo vessel loaded with steel bars, was on its way to Cebu from Manila when the incident happened.
Ogorida said the ship was pounded by giant waves until it capsized, prompting its crew to jump off the water.
He said 12 passengers are still missing as of posting time.
- By Michelle Zoleta (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
Subject: Fatalities of Romblon vessel sinking rise to 2 
Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:01 pm
