Survivors of SuperFerry 9 recount ship tragedy

KORONADAL CITY , Philippines — Roger Chicharon and Vincent Gallaza prayed as other passengers panicked while M/V SuperFerry 9 slowly sank in the sea off Zamboanga del Norte early Sunday morning.

Both are from South Cotabato province.

Chicharon said he asked God to save him for the sake of his family.

“Before I jumped into the sea, I closed my eyes and whispered to God to save me for the sake of my family,” he said in Hiligaynon.

Chicharon said he also prayed that the other passengers, especially the children be saved from death.
“They were crying, pleading for help and fighting for lifeboats after the captain ordered ‘abandon ship’ at around 3:16 a.m.,” he said.

Chicharon said he saw from the ship’s sun deck hundreds of people floating on the sea.

“They were like fishes scampering inside a fish net,” he said. “It was dark and so cold that time.”

Gallaza, a seaman, said he asked God to give him another life.

As he made the sign of the cross, he saw the other passengers doing the same and praying before jumping into the sea, he added.

Rescuers found the survivors a mile away from the capsized ship.

Gallaza said when he boarded the SuperFerry 9 in General Santos City, he noticed that something was wrong with the ship.

“Bago kami umalis, napansin ko na nakatabingi ang barko na parang overloaded siya,” he said.

Chicharon, Gallaza and other surviving passengers thanked God for listening to their prayers.

However, other passengers did not make it to safety.

Barangay Kagawad Jener Janapon of Koronadal City Zone 4 said the family of passenger Nilda Dumaop, a former South Cotabato provincial employee, could not accept that she is gone.

Janapon is the brother-in-law of Dumaop.

Yesterday was the birthday of Dumaop, who also worked as a clerk of the Koronadal City police force.

The STAR learned that Dumaop’s name was not included in the passenger manifest released by Aboitiz Transport System’s office in General Santos City because she bought her ticket in Davao City.

Survivor hoisted to safety

ZAMBOANGA CITY - - Lita Casunlum escaped a grim fate in shark infested waters off Zamboanga del Norte when rescuers hoisted her to safety into a hovering Air Force helicopter.

She had been floating at sea with a life vest for more than 24 hours when she was spotted from the air.

Speaking from her hospital bed at Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City, Casunlum said: “I never gave the thought of dying there and I know I can make it.”

Casunlum said she, her husband, Pepito, seven-year-old son, Christopher, and a teenaged nephew were separated after she was forced to jump into the sea because the life raft was already full.

“I kept on shouting and shouting but nobody heard me,” she said.

Casunlum said the strong waves caused her to drift away from the sinking ship.

“I was circling around wherever the waves brought me,” she said.

Casunlum said she held on with one arm on a life vest, which her husband had strapped on her before they escaped from the ill-fated ferry.

“I kept on praying that somebody, somehow will spot and rescue me,” she said.

After 24 hours of floating at sea, she suddenly heard the sound of an approaching helicopter and she started waving her arms, she added.

Casunlum was reunited with her husband, son and nephew at Edwin Andrews Air Base.

Sea marshal also prayed

Senior Police Officer 3 Loreto Justo, a sea marshal on board SuperFerry 9, prayed hard as the ship started to sink off Zamboanga del Norte.

“Nagdasal po ako sa Panginoon na iligtas kami at dininig po Nya ako,” he said, relating how he prayed that his life be saved. He did not mind having lost documents and personal effects so long as he was alive.

“Kahit po nawala na yung cellphone ko, passbook, driver’s license at ibang mga papeles na nakasamang lumubog ng barko, masaya na po ako at nabuhay kami.

Justo said he noticed that the ship was on its side after he had his lunch, and that when the ship began to list they had no time to go back to their cabins and retrieve their belongings.

“Tagilid po kasi hindi pantay yung baso namin pagkatapos po ay pumunta na kami sa cabin at nagpalit ng civilian clothes na T-shirt at shorts,” he said. – Ramil Bajo, Roel Pareño, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan