Wednesday, July 2, 2008

‘Princess’ passengers from MisOr still nowhere


LIZANILLA AMARGA
Contributing online editor

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Parents and relatives of the four missing residents from this city and Misamis Oriental who boarded the MV Princess of the Stars said they are alarmed with the report that a potent poisonous chemical is spreading over the capsized ferry off Sibuyan Island in Romblon.

Philippine Rescue 2000 chairperson Michael Angelo Bustamante who sent off seven rescuers aired the apprehension of the relatives of the missing passengers.

“Nabalaka na sila pag-ayo tungod adtong gibalita nga dunay Endosulfan nga nalunod uban sa MV Princess of the Stars,” he said.

The missing passengers were identified as Marlon Guinitaran, a resident of Balingasag; Marlon Mindor from Siayon, Tagoloan; Evelio Peralta from Zone 10, Upper Carmen; and Amelina Genelago from P-1, Brgy Gusa, this city.

Bustamante, who reports for DxIF, likewise expressed concern for their group of rescue officers sent by Gov. Oscar Moreno to find and bring back the four missing as he said they are taking extra caution considering the presence of Endosulfan in the sea waters of Romblon.

The Philippine Rescue 2000 members include RO5 Bonifacio Cayetuna, RO4 Ernesto Napoco, RO4 Joel Vedra, RO3 Jerry Salvana and RO3 Ronald Mercado.

Endosulfan is one of the pesticides used by Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI) in growing their fruits here in Bukidnon and other places in the country. The chemical was being shipped by MV Princess of the Stars when the ill-fated vessel sank.

The said chemical can even go through the skin of human beings and even severely infect them.

The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) have specifically authorized the use of Endosulfan by Del Monte.

The Endosulfan cargo was supposed to be loaded to M/V Princess of the Paradise but was transferred instead to M/V Princess of the Stars.

Meanwhile in a report from Tangub City, the family of a couple and their child believed to be as among those declared missing and believed to have perished in the incident said they were “twice saddened.”

The De la Peña family of Sta. Cruz told this paper that Mary Jane de la Peña Abano, her husband Jayson and 6-year old daughter Iannah Therese were expected to arrive here last Saturday for the wake of their father.

They never arrived.

Teddy Flores, Mary Jane’s brother in law, said the couple even sent text messages of their whereabouts and their status during that morning before the incident happened.

“Please pray for us kay mitakilid na ang barko ug daghan nang mga tigulang nga nangakuyapan ng gipangnerbyos nahadlok nalang ko ay,” Flores quotes Mary Jane in her last text to him.

It was their last text message.

Flores said they have accepted the fate of their relatives who may have perished in the incident and called on the govern ment to continue with the rescue efforts and for Sulpicio Lines to offer aid to the families of the victims.
Neighbors in Sta. Cruz who heard the news offered sympathies to the family.

A certain Abundia Magallanes, a resident of Maloro and a survivor of the 1994 sea tragedy involving MV Cebu and MV Cotta Soria, which killed some 200 passengers, recalls her experience to MINDANAO MONITOR, saying “it is very difficult living from such a nightmare.”

Magallanes, 65, was with her husband and four year old grandchild when the incident happened. WITH BETHSER DABLO