4 more bodies found in Sibuyan
No confirmation yet on ship captain's remains
By Madonna Virola
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 16:01:00 07/04/2008
SAN FERNANDO, Sibuyan Island -- Four more bodies believed to be passengers of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars were found floating in the
waters off Sibuyan Island Friday noon, a resident of Cajidiocan town in
Romblon said.
The new bodies brought to 24 the total number found since Thursday, including the 20 found in the municipalities of Magdiwang and Cajidiocan.
There was no confirmation, however, if one of the bodies found Thursday in Magdiwang was that of the captain of the sunken ship, as alleged in earlier reports.
Eric Rial, resident of Barangay (village) Cambalo, Cajidiocan, said two of the four bodies sighted Friday were still in the sea while two others had been tied to a boat.
Seeking help from concerned authorities and ship owner Sulpicio Lines to retrieve the bodies, he said the skull and internal organs of some of the bodies have started to protrude.
As of Thursday afternoon, Mary Jane Martinez Rocero, former village councilwoman of Magdiwang and contact person of the Coast Guard, said the town had accounted for 13 of the 20 bodies found. Cajidiocan accounted for seven bodies.
The cadavers were blessed by diocesan priests, Fr. Jong Recto of the parish of Sto. Niño in Danao, Cajidiocan and Fr. Ronald Cauguiran of St. Nicholas de Tolentino parish in Banton.
Earlier reports said one of the bodies recovered in Magdiwang on Thursday was that of ship captain Florencio Marimon Sr., who was allegedly identified through a cell phone and keys tied to the life jacket.
Rocero added that aside from the phone and keys, an anchor tattoo with the word “sailor” was also found on the body.
"We could not yet confirm if it was the captain because there [was] no identification available and we were prevented from exploring further since it would pose danger to our health," said Dearlit Jane Patiño, municipal social welfare and development officer of Magdiwang town.
"We were told not to get the cell phone anymore and just rely on the tugboat hired by Sulpicio Lines," she added.
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