Gov’t officials among 212 passengers rescued as vessel runs aground in Cebu

CEBU City, Philippines—At least 212 passengers, including some top government officials in Central Visayas, were rescued after a passenger vessel ran aground on Saturday night, about one nautical mile off Lawis Ledge in Talisay City in Cebu.

MV Weesam Express 8 of the SRN Fast Sea Craft was supposed to arrive at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday at Pier 4, Cebu City, from Tagbiliran City in Bohol when it ran aground 15 minutes before its scheduled arrival.

Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Rolando Punzalan said they were disappointed with the crew members because they didn’t send a radio message to Coast Guard Cebu.

The Coast Guard learned about the incident from Dexter Llamas, Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, after he received a call from a client who was on board the vessel.

“I am very…very disappointed. Human lives are at stake here. They must inform us right away for a fast rescue effort,” Punzalan said.

Punzalan dispatched Search and Rescue Vessel (SARV) 3504 along with its Special Operations Unit rubber boat.

The Coast Guard’s Aduana port detachment rented motor banca Clemer 8, which was sent to the Lawis Ledge. The Armed Forces Central Command also sent its Navy patrol gunboat.

The shipping firm also sent Weesam 6 to the area.

All the passengers boarded the rubber boats first before they transferred to bigger rescue vessels since only the smaller boats could go near the MV Weesam Express 8 on shallow water.

The 13 crew stayed inside MV Weesam Express 8, which was towed by motor tugboat Anros at 8 a.m. on Sunday. The vessel arrived at Pier 4 at 9:30 a.m.

The passengers were taken to the different areas by the rescue vessels – Aduana port, Pier 1, Pier 4, and Naval Forces Central’s Captain Veloso Pier in Lapu Lapu City between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Among the rescued passengers were the Department of Health’s regional director Susana Madarieta and National Economic and Development Authority Central Visayas acting director Efren Carreon, who attended  separate meetings in Tagbilaran City.

Also rescued were lawyer Edward Villarta, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas director; and Rita Gallardo, identified by authorities as a staff member of Senator Francis Pangilinan.

Punzalan said the shipping firm provided food and hotel accommodations in Cebu. The management also assured passengers, who were supposed to catch a flight in Cebu, that they would take care of re-booking their flights and would pay the re-booking charges.