1 rescued, 2 bodies recovered from sunken ship with all-Filipino crew

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman and Assistant Secretary Charles Jose AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday that one was rescued while two bodies were recovered from a cargo ship with an all-Filipino crew that sank off Vietnam Friday night.

Reportedly rescued was the chief cook of the Bulk Jupiter, DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

In a crew list released by Ho Chi Minh-based news website Tuoi Tre News, the chief cook was identified as Angelito Rojas from Tubungan, Iloilo.

The DFA is yet to confirm the authenticity of the list.

“So far, one crew member, reported to be the chief cook, has been rescued while two bodies have been recovered. The search for the 16 other crew members continues,” Jose said.

The identities of the retrieved remains have yet to be released by the DFA.

The 56,000-ton Bahamian-flagged cargo ship which is carrying iron ore from Malaysia to China reportedly sank at 9:41 p.m on January 2 some 150 nautical miles off the coast of Vung Tau city in southern Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Jose said the DFA confirmed the sinking of the Bulk Jupiter through a note verbale sent by the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnamese authorities are said to be leading the search for the crew members, aided by vessels from Liberia, Oman, Singapore, and China.

The DFA, through its embassy in Hanoi, will continue to coordinate with the Vietnam Maritime Research and Rescue Coordinating Center in Ho Chi Minh City for updates on the rescued crewman and the arrangements for the repatriation of the retrieved remains, Jose ended.

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