Cargo ship sinks near Calapan City, 9 missing

SAN PEDRO CITY—A cargo ship with 20 crewmen sank off Mindoro Oriental Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has said.

The Coast Guard said the crew escaped on two life boats before the MV Sea Merchant went under near Calapan City after it encountered rough seas and strong winds.

Eleven crewmen, including its chief mate, Celso Rey Baiza, were rescued by a passenger ship as their raft drifted near Lobo, Batangas, late Thursday. They have been taken in by the Coast Guard, said Capt. Gregorio Adel, deputy commander of the PCG Southern Tagalog District.

With Baiza were Rommel Zoleta, Constantino Torres, Philip Solomon, Lester John Carinos , Manny Mendiola, Ronnie Lebguban, Franklin Ibaṅez, Rochie Jakosalem, John Patrick Saklot and Leonard Roma.

Adel said the fate of the other nine crewmen in the other life raft was still uncertain, but added that the PCG was confirming reports that a passenger vessel had picked up nine people from a boat adrift in the sea.

According to Adel, the Antique-bound MV Sea Merchant was allowed to sail from Bauan, Batangas, at around noon Thursday because the weather was “fine.” However, the weather turned bad at about 4 p.m.

Citing survivor accounts, Adel said the ship started to list. “It started to take on water and the captain ordered the abandon the ship,” he said.

MV Sea Merchant is owned by Fortune Sea Carrier Inc., a Philippine company.