Drums of asphalt, transformers also found in capsized ship

MANILA, Philippines - Aside from the highly toxic substance endosulfan, asphalts and electric transformers were also found inside the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, which capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon province on June 21 as typhoon "Frank" (Fengshen) battered the Philippines. Transportation Secretary Elena Baustista told this to Vice President Manuel "Noli" de Castro Jr on Saturday, citing information that she received from government toxicologists, led by Dr Eric Tayag, head of the Department of Health's National Epidemiology Center. She said the 36 drums of asphalts and the transformers were among the cargoes considered by toxicologists as "critical" and thus should be immediately retrieved. Earlier, Bautista said diving operations at ground zero had shifted to endosulfan retrieval. According to government experts endosulfan is a restricted chemical that is being imported only by "institutional users" in the Philippines as pesticide for pineapples. Bautista, head of a task force looking into the sea mishap, said her group's problem was how to find the best way to extract the endosulfan from the vessel. "Pag natanggal sa dagat babalik ang diver para ituloy ang operation (Once the endosulfan is removed, that's the only time the search operations for survivors and bodies can resume)," she said in an interview on dzXL radio. - GMANews.TV