Palace hails Coast Guard diver who died in duty

Malacañang on Saturday hailed the heroism of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) diver Arman Bonifacio who died while taking part in the search-and-retrieval operations for victims of a maritime tragedy off Cavite province. “Ikinalulungkot natin ang ganitong pangyayari, ang inaasahan nating sumagip sa nasalanta sila napabilang sa nasalanta (We are saddened that one of the divers helping out ended up being one of the victims). We share the grief of the family and admire the heroism of the diver," presidential spokesman Olivar said on Saturday over government-run dzRB radio. He said the Palace was hoping that the PCG would be able to conclude its search with no further casualties. For its part, the PCG said it would ask the owner of the sunken passenger vessel Catalyn-B to send in more divers to retrieve bodies from the wreckage. PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo also assured the family that 42-year-old Bonifacio would be given full burial honors. “He died in the line of duty. Bibigyan namin siya ng full burial honors (dahil sa) kanyang kabayanihan (He died in the line of duty. We will give him all benefits and honors because of his heroism)," Tamayo said in an interview on dzBB radio early Saturday. Bonifacio died Friday afternoon after suffering decompression sickness while helping retrieve remains of passengers from the MV Catalyn-B. The wooden-hulled Catalyn-B sank after colliding with the metal-hulled fishing vessel Anatalya off Limbones Island in Cavite last December 24. Olivar allayed fears of families that the search might be slowed down because of the death of Bonifacio. “Di naman siguro maapektuhan itong pagkamatay ng isa sa kanila di magkakaepekto sa ating kasamahan sa Coast Guard. Matatapang ang mga 'yan, they are used to the kind of risks they are taking (I don’t think the death of a diver will affect ongoing search operations. The Coast Guard’s people are courageous and are used to the kind of risks they are taking)," he said. Clueless On the other hand, Tamayo admitted that the PCG remained clueless over the cause of death of Bonifacio, saying they found nothing wrong with his diving equipment, at least initially. Citing reports reaching him, Tamayo said Bonifacio showed symptoms of decompression sickness while returning to the surface Friday. He was taken to a decompression chamber aboard the search-and-rescue ship BRP Pampanga. “Una nag-react siya, nag-respond. Pero nang pabalik sa Coast Guard nagkaroon ng worsening condition (At first he responded to treatment and the doctors on board were happy. But while they were making their way back to Coast Guard headquarters in Manila, his condition suddenly worsened)," Tamayo said. Tamayo said Bonifacio was a veteran diver who had taken part in key search, rescue and retrieval operations in past years. Among the search operations he took part in were for victims of the MV Princess of the Stars that capsized off Palawan in the wake of Typhoon Frank in June 2008; and of tropical cyclones “Ondoy" (Ketsana) and “Pepeng" (Parma). “Kami ay nagtataka, walang problema sa tangke. Walang indication na nagkaroon ng problema sa kanyang equipment (We are puzzled. His oxygen tank and diving equipment did not seem to have any problem)," Tamayo said. More divers While the PCG will still continue its search operations after Bonifacio’s death, Tamayo said it would ask the owner of Catalyn-B to bring in technical divers to help. “Kakausapin natin ang may-ari kumuha ng technical divers, gagawin natin kung kakayanin natin balikan ang site (We will ask the owner to get technical divers to the site. We will continue the search)," he said. Tamayo also said he expected the Board of Marine Inquiry to start on Monday its investigation into the tragedy. He said the board would have up to 30 days to complete its investigation. “Sisimulan natin ng Lunes, binigyan sila ng 15 to 30 days tapusin ang investigation (The board will start its work Monday and will have 15 to 30 days to finish the investigation)," he said. - ARCS/GMANews.TV