Flowers, prayers and candles were again offered yesterday morning by families of those who perished and still unaccounted for in the Aug. 16, 2013 collision between the M/V St. Thomas Aquinas and M/V Sulpicio Express Siete.
The bereaved families together with officials and staff of the 2GO Group, the registered owner of the Aquinas, board a Phil. Coast Guard (PCG) patrol boat, the BRP Romblon, and went to the Lauis Ledge off Talisay City where the passenger ferry sank after colliding with the freighter owned by Philippine Span Asia Carriers Inc.
“Let us all pray for their souls. Let us also pray that this kind of tragedy will not happen again,” said Fr. Tito Soquiño who led the prayer service at sea. The priest later sprinkled holy water on the area where the ferry capsized.
Giovanni and Josel Enecio, who lost their grandparents and an uncle in the tragedy sought the PCG’s help to bring them to Lauis Ledge so they can pay their respects to the dead.
“Thank you to all people who supported us. I also request the viewers to offer a prayer for all the victims,” said Giovanni.
“So far we are recovering because of the unconditional support of everybody,” Giovanni added.
Lito Salvio, vice president of 2GO Travel, said they have settled with almost all of the affected families including those of the missing passengers.
Bernile Gastardo, president of Filipino Cave Divers (FCD), recalled yesterday their experience in helping with the search and rescue.
“The strongest picture that I remember was a child’s leg that was (trapped) and she was like reaching out,” Gastardo said, admitting that he was traumatized by the images of the tragedy which continue to haunt him.
There were six technical divers from FCD who helped in the search and rescue operation.
“There was a time when I took a boat to Ozamis and I experienced palpitation and had flashbacks in a boat filled with people,” he added. They wanted to take a dive at the accident area yesterday but the PCG did not allow them, saying it is too risky.
Last year’s accident killed 116 people, and 21 are still missing.
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