Philippines ferry tragedy: Relatives still praying for loved ones

Manila: Relatives are continuing to pray for loved ones as authorities ordered an end to rescue operations three days after a ferry sank in calm weather killing two people off central Philippines last Friday, sources said.

Relatives of Leticia Andaya, 78, said in a radio interview they are still praying that her body would be found in nearby islands where Lady Mount Carmel sank in calm weather 1.2km off central Burial Island, near Masbate provinces last Friday.

Another relative said she might have been trapped in the ferry, which sank and remained under water.

But Raffy Alejandrino, regional head of the National Disaster risk Reduction and Management Council, said that harsh weather and roughs seas have prevented rescuers from reaching the sunken ferry.

“We are shifting from rescue to retrieval operation. We will search only if someone spots something floating near the coastline,” said Alejandrino, a sign that authorities have given up hope that the seven missing are still alive, three days after the sea mishap.

Navy and coastguard vessels ordered to go to nearby islands to look for bodies. Local fishermen have been assisting in the search.

Divers of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard were prevented from going down to the sea to look for the ferry where the seven missing were feared trapped, announced navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gerald Fabic.

Strong currents and rough weather have not been kind to them, preventing them from reaching the seabed, said Fabic.

Of the seven reported missing. Andaya and two others, Abegail Barredo, 19, and Noan Manocan, 25, were listed on the manifest of the ill-fated ferry.

Relatives of those missing have called for an investigation, saying the four were not on the ship’s manifest.

They said on TV they wanted their relatives to be recovered for a proper burial.

Some 61 of the 70 people on board the ill-fated ferry were rescued on Saturday. Survivors complained of not being taken care of by the ship’s crew at the start of the accident.

Safety procedures are not imposed on ferries which are used by residents across the country’s 7,100 islands.

Accidents often occur during the rainy season, which begins in June.

In 1987, 4,341 people perished when ferry Dona Paz collided with a small oil tanker, resulting in the world’s worst peace time disaster.