By JEL SANTOS, With a report from AFP
An unidentified military man has been regarded an ‘angel’ after survivors saw how he saved several kids from a sinking ship in Infanta, Quezon.
Ferry boat Mercraft 3 sank after it was allegedly hit by strong waves intensified by typhoon Vinta on its way to Polilio Island.
Renalyn, a Grade 8 student, told the Manila Bulletin that she was saved by a man wearing a military shirt. She said that the man was with three other men wearing the same shirt when they boarded the boat.
“Noong nagsisigawan na po ang mga tao, akala ko po, mamatay na po kami ng nanay ko. Hindi po kasi kami marunong lumangoy,” said Renalyn “Nagdarasal na lang po talaga ako noon.”
A sobbing Renalyn said she is very grateful to the “army man” who rescued her and the other children aboard the boat.
“Kung hindi po niya ako niligtas, patay na po siguro ko ngayon. Sobrang nagpapasalamat po ako sa kanya na kahit hindi niya ako kakilala ay ginawan niya ako ng mabuti,” added Renalyn.
Meldy, 40, the mother of Renalyn, said that she saw the same man save not only her daughter but countless more children as well.
Before riding the boat, Meldy noticed that the Mercraft 3 was overcrowded, saying that most of the passengers have no life vests. She said that the boat left the Dinahican Port at around 10 a.m.
“Mahigit po 300 katao po ang nakasakay. Sobrang overcrowded po,” disclosed Meldy.
But contrary to the statement of survivors, ship owner Ernell Meraña reportedly told the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that there were 251 people aboard the boat which had a capacity of 286.
Officials gave no explanation for the discrepancy but acknowledged the boat had carried more than the 251 people listed on its manifest.
The boat, according to Meldy, was hit by a strong wave that made the boat flip before splitting into half around 12nn.
The only foreigner aboard the boat, identified as 60-year-old Australian Roland Kemp claimed that there may be more casualties based on what he saw during the disaster.
“There are more than four people who died. Many drowned. I saw them floating – more than four,” he told the Manila Bulletin in an interview yesterday. “I saved my Filipina friend and her 15-year-old son. We were just about to have a Christmas vacation on Polilio Iand.”
Meantime, rescue teams in the Philippines resumed their search for survivors Friday after a ferry carrying more than 250 passengers capsized, with at least five confirmed dead.
The 206-tonne vessel had been given the green light to sail as Tropical Storm Tembin gathered pace over the southern Philippines nearly a thousand kilometres away, as there were no storm alerts in the local area, the coastguard said.
But a survivor told local radio that the ferry was forced to stop at sea due to large waves and strong winds, before it started taking in water from the bow and tipped over.
