Monday, November 24, 2003
Rescue groups lose hope of finding missing passengers
By Roberto L. Bacasong
CHIEF Petty Officer Rufino Robles, Cuyo Coast Guard Port commander, disclosed that no other missing passengers aboard the sunken M/L Susan G-3 were found in their search and rescue operations, which ended Sunday afternoon.
Robles said they abandoned their operations, as the possibility of finding the passengers alive is practically nil because the waters in Cuyo Island are shark-infested.
He further revealed that the 13 rescued passengers rescued late last week are now in stable condition in Palawan.
They will sail to Iloilo today aboard in M/V Milagrosa.
They were among the more than 30 passengers and crew of the ill-fated vessel, which sank at the height of tropical storm Weng last November 15.
No more survivor
Chief Petty Officer Marcial Lindogan, acting Coast Guard commanding officer of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, said they spent a whole day in Semirara Island, Antique in their search and rescue operation.
He added that his team received a report that passengers were found in Semirara Island. However, they found nobody there.
Lindogan believes the other missing passengers are already dead.
Those rescued were: Torilla Alviola, 27, and Junjun Alviola, 20, both of Alimanguhan, San Vicente, Palawan; Lucita Nadalio, 50, Sulpicio Delamar, 31, Jr., Rona Mae Remadio, 15, all of Hinobaan, Negros Occidental; Julie de la Concepcion, 33, his wife, Fedelina, 33; and their children, Lani, 15, Dionaliza, 12, and Jonah, 14, all of Tuyong, Cauayan, Negros Occidental; Reming Noble, 40, of Bantulan Taytay, Palawan; Milagros Demegillo, 58, of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental; and a certain "Baby Boy," 5, who still remains unidentified.
Those rescued in Culasi island were Rommel Gamilong, 29, of Sibunag, Guimaras province; Leopoldo Galido, 57, Jun Galve, 26, both of Jordan, Guimaras; Loreto Ganuhay, 54, of Roxas City, Capiz; Mariano Himaya, 44, of Sipalay; Roger Campos, 18, Cauayan; Bonifacio Camancho, 42, of Camingawan, Kabankalan City; Nocy Espina, 26, of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras; and Rey de la Concepcion, 26; of Tuyong, Cauayan.
The bodies of siblings Jonalyn and Jason de la Concepcion, Sulpico Delamar, Sr., and an unidentified woman were buried Thursday afternoon at the Cuyo cemetery.
The body of Bernabe Ganancial, owner of M/L Susan G-3 was brought to his hometown, Sipalay City, last week.
(November 24, 2003 issue)
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