Arroyo wants marker built in Sibuyan to honor ‘Princess’ victims

MANILA, Philippines – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday ordered the construction of a “memorial marker" in Sibuyan Island to honor the people who died in the capsizing of MV Princess of the Stars. In a radio report, Transport Undersecretary Elena Bautista - head of the task force overseeing government efforts in response to the tragedy - said President Arroyo had directed the task force to build a commemorative structure bearing the names of passengers and crewmen who were killed in the incident. “The President has already instructed us to put a memorial where the names of all the fatalities in the accident are indicated," Bautista was quoted in the report as saying. Bautista said that the DOTC has yet to decide what kind of memorial structure they would be erecting. She said they are choosing between building a lighthouse, or a buoy, or a platform for the memorial. “We have instructions to gather some plans if we should put up a light house, a buoy, or a platform para mapaalam sa mga kamag-anak ng mga nasawi sa insidenteng ito (to remind the families of the victims)," Bautista said. For his part, Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said he would prefer that a lighthouse be placed on the site where the ill-fated ship capsized. Tamayo was quoted in the same radio interview as saying that the lighthouse would not only serve as a memorial marker but could also guide other sea crafts sailing in the vicinity off the island’s coast. Hundreds of passengers were killed when the ship - owned by Sulpicio Lines, Inc. - capsized off Sibuyan Island at the height of typhoon "Frank" last June 21. Only more than 50 passengers and crewmembers - out of the ship's 866 passengers and crew - were able to survive the sea tragedy. Hundreds remain missing and are believed to be trapped inside the ferry which has yet to be salvaged. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV