Gov’t hoping for the best for missing Filipino seamen

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is still hoping the 16 missing Filipino seamen will be found alive four days after their cargo vessel sank off Vietnam and after the bodies of two of their colleagues were recovered.

“Everyone is hoping we’ll still find survivors,” Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, the DFA spokesman said on Monday.

Jose said the search would continue for the 16 of the 19 all-Filipino crew of the cargo ship, Bulk Jupiter, led by Vietnam.

In a press briefing, Jose identified the lone survivor so far of the Filipino crew as Angelito Capindo Roxas, the chief cook.

He belied reports that Roxas, from Iloilo, was uncooperative during investigation, saying the last report he read said the cook was in a state of shock and still unable to give his statement to investigators.

Quoting a report from the Philippine Embassy in Hanoi, Jose identified the two fatalities as Capt. Ronnel Acueza Andrin and Third Officer Maquilang Dinoi.

Their remains have been transferred to Ho Chi Minh City where the Philippine honorary consul general and representatives of the manning agency, Magsaysay Maritime Corp., were arranging for their repatriation.

He, however, said it may take some time to get Roxas and the remains of the two others home.

Jose said the Filipino cook had yet to talk to Vietnamese investigators, while documents still needed to be gathered to repatriate the remains of the 45-year-old Andrin and 23-year-old Dinoi. Andrin was from Quezon while Dinio hailed from Cebu.

Jose said the investigation into the cause of the sinking was ongoing.

The Norwegian cargo vessel went down off the coast of Vung Tau City on Jan. 2. It was carrying a cargo of iron ore from China to Malaysia.

In Hanoi, Vietnam, state media reported Monday that Rojas told officials he had no idea what happened to the ship.

“I don’t understand why the ship had the accident and sank,” Rojas was quoted as saying. “I just knew that the ship, which was on its way, suddenly tilted. I just had time to put on a life vest and jump into the sea.”

Meanwhile, British rescue teams searched Sunday for eight missing crew members of a cargo ship that capsized north of Scotland.

Tony Redding, a spokesman for the German shipping company that operated the vessel, said there had been no distress signal from the ship, and the last communication with the vessel was routine. The company said seven of the crew were Polish and one was a Filipino.–With a report from AP