NDCC: Last missing passenger of SuperFerry 9 rescued

The last of the 900-plus passengers and crew of the SuperFerry 9 tragedy was rescued off Zamboanga del Norte province, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Tuesday. In its report at 8 a.m. Tuesday, the NDCC said the Philippine Air Force rescued the woman, identified as Lita Casumion from Iloilo City, on Monday. "(Casumion was rescued) by PAF chopper in Sirawai and is currently in the custody of the PAF (in) Zamboanga City," the NDCC report said. With the passengers and crew accounted for, authorities can now shift their efforts on the investigation of the incident. On Monday night, the NDCC said passenger Jechuane Bangkiling, 20, of Davao City, was transferred from a Navy boat to the MV Champion. It said Bangkiling was reported as "under medication" aboard the MV Champion. Also on Monday, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) said it was suspending operations of Aboitiz Transport System Corp. (ATSC), owner of the ill-fated SuperFerry 9, pending investigation of the tragedy. A report aired over GMA News' “24 Oras" that day said Marina issued a show-cause order against the shipping firm upon instruction from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). DOTC Undersecretary Thompson Lantion said the ATSC would be required to explain why its permit should not be revoked or canceled: "When we conduct this inspection, automatically they cannot do their usual travel."

At least nine of the passengers and crew had died in Sunday's incident, where the SuperFerry 9 started to list before dawn Sunday and sank several hours later. [See: 9 dead, 926 rescued as ferry sinks off Zambo Peninsula] Four of the fatalities had been identified so far. These include James Patrick Gallego, 2; Ferdinand Apolonio; Carina Ampere, 23; and Fernando Estrada. The NDCC said SuperFerry 1 left Zamboanga City Sunday night with 112 survivors bound for Iloilo, and 44 others bound for Manila. Another sister vessel of the ill-fated ship, SuperFerry 5, continued its journey for Bacolod City with 171 survivors. The remaining survivors were housed in lodging houses in Zamboanga City to wait for SuperFerry 19, which would bring them to Davao City. Also, the NDCC cited reports from the Philippine Coast Guard indicating the SuperFerry 9 was loaded with 180 tons of residual fuel; 45 tons of special fuel oil; and 25 tons of lube oil. Aboitiz Transport System, which owns SuperFerry, has tapped the services of Harbor Star to join the oil spill assessment and monitoring. - GMANews.TV