28 survive 2 mishaps in waters off Cagayan

By Freddie Lazaro

TUGUEGARAO CITY — At least 20 crew members of a tilted Hong Kong cargo vessel in waters off Aparri, Cagayan last Tuesday have been rescued safely, the Philippine Maritime Group reported Thursday.

Earlier on June 16, eight people, including a seven-month-old baby, survived after big waves wrecked the vessel they were riding in waters also off Barangay Linao in Aparri last Jan. 16.

Supt. Verlito Paredes, chief of the PMG, said after the rescue in the latest incident, his men assisted Philippine Coast Guard personnel in tugging “M/V Lucky V,” owned by Franco Shipping Company and registered in Hong Kong, to a shallow area.

The cargo vessel had an undetermined volume of iron ore bound for China from Cagayan when Filipino Captains Pio Sergio Jr. and Severino Gallenero Galo sent out an S-O-S message that their ship was hit by strong waves.

Earlier in the June 16 incident, the victims were bound for Claveria, Cagayan aboard M/V San Bartolome when it was hit by big waves.

Luckily, they were nearing the port in Aparri when the incident happened.

Chief Insp. George Cablarta, Aparri town’s chief of police, identified the survivors as Felino Fernando, 53; Arthur Fernando Duerme, 33, his wife - Mercy 32 and his child Boy Arthur Duerme, 7 – month old; Fernando Llopis; Prince Fernando, 29; Rexum Fernando and Vincent Caddarao, 19, all residents of Calayan Island in Cagayan.