RORO survivors: Passengers had no time to wear life vests

Many passengers of the ill-fated roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessel M/V Baleno 9 had no time to put on life vests when the ship started to list and sink Saturday night. This was how many of the 19 passengers rescued and brought to Batangas Port described their ordeal, Radio dzBB reported Sunday morning. The report quoted the passengers as saying they heard a loud thump and felt the ship listing. They said everything happened so fast they had no time to think of putting on life vests. A partial list of survivors brought to Batangas Port included Joseph Aldaba Jr., Eric Glenn, Edison Escares, Francisco Barbajano, Rona Avila, Michael Talipay, Alberto Perez, Reynaldo Madrigal, Eduardo Quimbo, and Edwin Hidalbo. Those who were identified only with either their first names or surnames were Archie, Perry, and Buboy; Hermogenes Jr., Delos Reyes, Cajoyong, and two with surname Peñaranda. On the other hand, the Coast Guard Website said the M/V Baleno-9 was a 199-gross ton ship with an authorized passenger capacity of 284, owned by Besta Shipping Lines of Pedro Ang. Aside from 18 crew and 70 passengers, the ship had on its manifest nine rolling cargoes at the time of the incident. “Initial inquiry from the survivors of the mishap disclosed that the vessel took in water coming from the bow ramp and severely affected the stability of the vessel causing her to badly list and eventually sank while traversing the area of Verde island passage," the Coast Guard said. - GMANews.TV