Coast Guard ends search for missing ferry passenger

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Coast Guard ends search for missing ferry passenger
The Philippine Coast Guard will now focus on the investigation of the maritime mishap off the coast of Leyte which led to 8 deaths

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has ended its search and rescue operations for the remaining missing passenger of the ferry that sank off the coast of Southern Leyte on September 13.

Lieutenant Commander Elizer Dalnay, spokesperson of PCG district in Northern Mindanao, said on Wednesday, September 17, that the operations were terminated at 6:30 pm Tuesday, September 16, after the continuing efforts yielded no success.

Meanwhile, PCG Commander Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesman, said Commodore Gilbert Rueras of the PCG Maritime Safety Services heads the 4-man investigating team tasked to probe the M/V Maharlika 2 mishap. 

Balilo said the other members of the team are two PCG mariners and a lawyer.

“They would be sending out summons in aid of the investigation. They would be inviting people whose testimonies would be material to the investigation, such as the ship captain, survivors and witnesses in the incident,” he said.  

The ship’s owner would also be asked to submit documents such as the passenger manifest and the voyage plan.

On September 13, the M/V Maharlika, a roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ferry was heading to Liloan in Southern Leyte when it sank off Binit Point, Panaoan Island, reportedly due to steering problems.

Search and rescue operations began after the mishap was reported to authorities that same day. A total of 113 passengers were rescued, while 8 bodies were recovered, a 1 passenger remained missing. – Rappler.com

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