A Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) ferry boat, MV Maharlika-2, sank between Southern Leyte and Surigao after it was battered by big waves. All its passengers abandoned the ship and were rescued by sister vessel, Maharlika 4, and a foreign vessel.
MV Maharlika-2 was manned by Capt. Juan B. Cayago. According to the ship's manifest, it carried 58 passengers (56 adults and two children), 26 crew members, and 13 rolling cargoes. These figures were cited in the initial incident report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
However, in a phone interview with ANC on Saturday, Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado said they were checking out reports that said the ship actually had over 100 passengers. Mercado later said that at least 23 people were not recorded in the ship's manifest.
Deputy presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte revealed that Cayago had told the Coast Guard there were actually 116 people on board when the vessel went down. The figure is in contrast with earlier reports that there were only 84 passengers and crew on the manifest.
"They are trying to get a more precise number of the people who were on the vessel," Valte said.
As of 12:30 p.m., there were 113 people reported rescued. The authorities also said that three people had died.
Ship's route
At around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, MV Maharlika-2—a vessel of Archipelago Ferries Corporation—departed from Lipata Port. It was bound for the Liloan Port.
The ship was six nautical miles northwest of Binit Point, Panaoan Island, it experienced steering problems due to the big waves and strong current.
Search and rescue efforts
The Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas (CGDEV), Coast Guard Station (CGS) Maasin, Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS), and CGSS Liloan were immediately directed to provide assistance to the ship.
At around 9:20 p.m., the passengers and crew abandoned MV Maharlika-2.
At around 11 p.m., the responding ship, MV Maharlika-4, arrived at the Lipata Port carrying 32 survivors.
Meanwhile, foreign vessel MV Lara Venture rescued 18 people, while MT St. Martin rescued five people. MV Orient King was also in the area to help in the search and rescue efforts.
As of early Sunday morning, September 13, at least 29 people were still missing.
Search and rescue operation continue to be conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Emergency Response Services of Surigao City.
CGS Surigao and MV Maharlika-2's manager are now assisting survivors for processing and proper disposition.
