BMI to start probe on Cavite sea mishap Monday

The Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) of the Philippine Coast Guard will start on Monday its investigation into last Christmas Eve's collision of passenger vessel MV Catalyn B and fishing boat Anathalia, which claimed the lives of at least 11 people. PCG chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo has given the board 15 to 30 days to finish the inquiry. The sea incident - one of the two last month - occurred off Limbones Island in Cavite province last December 24. MV Catalyn B, owned by San Nicolas Shipping Lines, was on its way to Lubang Island in Mindoro when it collided with the fishing vessel. Sixteen passengers are still missing while the number of survivors stands at 44. Tamayo said he had already asked San Nicolas Shipping Lines to help provide technical divers who will assist the retrieval operations for the bodies remained trapped inside the sunken passenger ferry. Last Friday, diver Petty Officer 3 Arman Bonifacio, 42, died of "decompression sickness" while participating in the search and retrieval operations. His remains lie in his house in Cainta, Rizal. PCG spokesman Lt. Commander Armand Balilo said the agency would give full burial honors to Bonifacio. He said this is on top of the benefits that would be given to his wife Claribel and the high school and college scholarship for his only son, Alvin. Malacañang had hailed Bonifacio for his heroism. Two days after the sinking of MV Catalyn B, another passenger vessel, MV Baleno 9, sank off Verde Island in Batangas, killing at least six people. - KBK, GMANews.TV