ILOILO STRAIT TRAGEDY: Search and retrieval operations halted; total death toll at 31

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo 

AUTHORITIES have already terminated the search and retrieval operations for the victims of Saturday’s tragic sea incidents in the Iloilo Strait.

Iloilo City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) head Donna Magno confirmed that all the 83 passengers and 13 crew members of the three ill-fated motor bancas have been accounted for.

“All passengers have all been accounted for and there was no missing victim left. The incident happened last Saturday and it’s already Wednesday, wala ng pamilyang naghahanap na so we would like to think na accounted na natin yung lahat ng pasahero,” she said in a press conference on Wednesday at the Joint Incident Command Post.

Magno reported that as of Tuesday, 52 passengers and 13 crew members onboard motor bancas Chi-Chi, Keziah, and Jenny Vince survived.

On the other hand, 31 passengers onboard Chi-Chi and Jenny Vince perished.

The search and retrieval operations ended on Wednesday after three bodies were retrieved by authorities and motor boat crews in the waters of Dumangas, Iloilo.

Magno confirmed the identity of the three bodies – Jhaeron Mars Salanatin, Romnel Baguio, and Danelle Baguio.