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MANILA, Philippines–Suicide attempts on passenger ferries have increased, the Philippine Coast Guard revealed on Friday.
“Yesterday we released an advisory to shipping companies because we are alarmed that in the past four months we have recorded 12 incidents of ‘man overboard’,” PCG spokesman Armand Balilo said in a press briefing.
“Sinabi namin sa shipping companies na bantayan iyong may problema sa utak, ‘yong depressed. Bantayan baka magtalunan (We told the shipping companies to be on the lookout for people who have mental illness, those who are depressed. Guard them because they might jump off the ship),” he added.
Balilo said last week one distressed passenger tried to jump off a Mindanao-bound ferry.
“Pagkatapos ma-rescue gusto na namang tumalon. Only to find out may problema (After the rescue, the passenger wanted to jump into the water again. Only to find out that person had a problem),” he said.
There were no fatalities from the incidents, Balilo said.
“We advise the sea marshal to be alert and the relatives of those people suffering from psychological problems who are traveling to be vigilant,” he added.