Cagayan sea tragedy death toll hits 23; 33 still missing

(Updated 6:23 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines – The death toll from the capsizing of a cargo-passenger vessel off Cagayan province over the weekend has been pegged at 23, an Associated Press report said on Monday. The same report said that 33 others are still missing after the wooden-hulled Maejan, traveling from Calayan islands in the Luzon Strait, encountered strong waves and currents Sunday evening. This contradicted an earlier Philippine Coast Guard report which said that the death toll from the capsizing of a cargo-passenger vessel off Cagayan province over the weekend was at 28. In that statement, the PCG said that as of 8:30 a.m. Monday, 22 others remain missing after big waves caused the M/B Maejan to capsize off Ballesteros town in Cagayan, while 46 survivors have been secured. Senior Superintendent Moro Lazo, Cagayan police director, said six more bodies have been recovered as of 9:30 a.m. Monday bringing to 28 the recovered fatalities. “Rescue operations started at around 10:30 pm, we notified our stations in Aparri and Ballesteros and elements from the 1st and 2nd Police Provincial Mobile Group to and immediately conduct rescue operations based on reports of Mayor (Joseph) Llopis of Calayan," Lazo said. The PCG said search and rescue operations “using available vessels in the locality" continue while PCG's Northern Luzon district’s Action Center has advised passing seacraft to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts. “PCG commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo directed the immediate dispatch of SAR-003 and MCS-3005 vessels and the PCG Islander for aerial surveillance," the statement read. The PCG is also coordinating with the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force for assistance in the search and rescue operations. In an interview on dzBB radio earlier, Ballesteros police chief Senior Inspector Alex de los Santos identified 13 of the fatalities as: • Amy Arellano; • SB Winifredo Agarpao; • Angel Suarez; • Cristine Cangas; • Eva Llopis; • Ofelio Padero-Palmes; • Paz Escalaante; • Azela Tambao; • Adena Tan-Arellano; • Ralaine Allado; • Leonardo Llopis; • Marilou Menor; and • Bella Llopis. The PCG statement said Amy Arellano - who was among the fatalities - was the identified owner of the ill-fated vessel. The statement said M/B Maejan left Calayan Island about 9:30 a.m. Sunday “but failed to enter the port of Aparri due to big waves and strong current until it was dragged and capsized at vicinity more ore less 50 meters from the shoreline of Pallog village" in Ballesteros town. Reports indicated that M/B Maejan was carrying 96 passengers when it capsized. - GMANews.TV, AP