A crew member on a boat sailing near the ill-fated MV Lady Mary Joy 3 remembers his harrowing experience rescuing victims from the ferry fire that left at least 28 people dead.
In Jonathan Andal’s report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, Loriel Saripah said he was steerering his boat off Baluk-baluk, Basilan when he saw the ferry catch fire. He woke up his crew to assist the ferry passengers jumping into the sea.
The Basilan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported a total of 28 dead.
“May mga bata, may mga babae na nagsisigaw ng “Tabang! Tabang! [Tulong! Tulong!]” he said. “Tinatapunan namin ng tali tapos hinihila namin paunti unti. Sabi namin, ‘Wag ka talagang bumitiw’.”
(There were children, women shouting, ‘Help! Help!’ We threw ropes at them and we pulled them in gradually. We told them, ‘Don’t let go.’”)
Saripah said one of the victims he would not forget was a child, who was dragging their father who they thought was still alive.
“Pinasok na lang niya iyong kamay niya doon sa damit ng tatay niya, siya na naghila sa tatay niya… Pag-akyat niya sa lantsa, sabi niya, ‘Tatay ko! Tatay ko!’,” he said.
(They put their hand inside the clothes of their father, and pulled him. When they got up the boat, they said, “My father! My father!”)
The child was separated from their mother, but was reunited later on.
Another victim pulled from the sea was a teacher, her face burned.
“Nagsabi sa akin na, ‘Sir, please, tulungan mo ako. Naglalamig, hindi ko na kaya’,” Saripah said.
(She told me, “Sir please, help me. I am cold, I can no longer take it.)
The crew also recovered six bodies, including three children.
Defense Chief Carlito Galvez Jr. over the weekend said over P700,000 in relief and financial assistance will be provided by the government to the passengers. Victims will also undergo psychosocial intervention.
The Lady Mary Joy 3 was headed to Jolo, Sulu from Zamboanga City last Wednesday, March 29, when it caught fire at around 10:40 p.m. Fire out was declared at 7:30 a.m. the following day.
Ferry operator Aleson Shipping Lines has also provided financial assistance. It is also coordinating with the authorities on the investigation into the matter.
The Philippine Coast Guard earlier said there was no indication of overloading or of sabotage. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News
