TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Allen, Northern Samar, has confirmed that a decomposing body found in Dimasalang, Masbate, on Friday, January 3, belongs to one of the missing crew members of the ill-fated cargo vessel M/V Jerlyn Khatness, which sank off the coast of Lavezares, Northern Samar, on December 30.
The remains were identified as Andres Bolanon, 63, from Tubigon, Bohol.
Residents of Barangay Magcaraguit in Dimasalang discovered Bolanon’s body tied to a wooden blue-colored chair on Friday at around 2:30 p.m.
Apprentice Seaman Jayson Tapaya of the PCG Allen Substation confirmed the discovery in a phone interview on Sunday, January 5.
“Our substation actually learned about the discovery through a social media post. We immediately contacted our counterparts in Masbate to verify the information, and it was confirmed that the body was indeed Bolanon,” Tapaya said.
Bolanon’s body was identified by his co-workers who are still in Allen.
According to Tapaya, the chair to which Bolanon was tied was the same one used by his colleagues to secure him during the vessel’s sinking.
“It was his co-workers who tied him to a wooden blue-colored chair. He was in the same position when his body was recovered,” Tapaya added.
The local government of Dimasalang initially buried Bolanon’s remains in a public cemetery on Saturday, January 4. However, the shipping company informed the Coast Guard that Bolanon’s family had requested his remains to be exhumed and brought back to Bohol for a proper burial.
With Bolanon’s recovery, the death toll from the sinking of MV Jerlyn Khatness has risen to two. Dondee Macasul, 30, from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, was the first fatality. His body was recovered on December 31 at around 8 a.m. in the waters off Barangay Pio del Pilar, Biri, Northern Samar.
Thirteen other crew members, including the vessel’s master, Alberto Ompoc, were rescued following the sinking.
MV Jerlyn Khatness, owned by Jerlyn’s Shipping Line, Inc. based in Cebu City, was carrying a load of cement from Naga City, Cebu, en route to San Jose, Northern Samar. The vessel encountered large waves around 2:30 p.m. on December 30, causing it to sink. The incident was attributed to rough weather conditions.
The sinking was reported to the PCG Northern Samar Station at around 10 p.m. on the same day by local fishermen.
Meanwhile, the PCG reported a minimal fuel spill near the suspected sunken area of the MV Jerlyn Khatness. According to the Marine Environmental Protection Enforcement and Response Group (MEPERG) – Eastern Visayas, light traces of oil sheen were observed at the sunken site.
“Based on our assessment, the oil sheen is expected to evaporate and naturally dissipate from the water surface,” the PCG said.
The vessel was reportedly carrying 7,000 liters of diesel fuel at the time of the incident.
The PCG has launched a maritime investigation into the sinking. The rescued crew members remain in Allen, Northern Samar, to assist with the inquiry.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
