Sister ship of Baleno 9, owned by Besta Shipping Lines
M/V Baleno 9, a roll on – roll off ferry bound for Batangas City sank off the coast of San Agapito Point in Verde Island at around midnight on December 26. Initial report from the Philippine Coast Guard showed that the manifest only listed 26 passengers and carried nine motor vehicles including 10-wheeler truck, 6-wheeler truck, a car and four cargo jeeps.
Sen. Dick Gordon of the Philippine National Red Cross personally responded to oversee the search and rescue operation as well as to conduct an inquiry of the cause of the mishap.
Initially, the Coast Guard has confirmed six people dead, including an 8 month-old girl and 36 are still missing. Sen. Gordon has called the attention of the Coast Guard for the inconsistent number of passengers saying that the first manifest he saw contained just around 20 names but the Coast Guard later on provided a “supplemental manifest”. Meanwhile, according to some survivors, the number of actual passengers could reach around a hundred. To date, the rescue units have accounted for 69 survivors, including some crew members.
Based on some survivors, the vessel sank an hour and a half after leaving the Port of Calapan City. It was disclosed that the boat was taking in water, which caused it to list, and then eventually sank. There were no huge waves nor did the vessel hit anything to cause this damage according to the initial investigation report.
Transportation Secretary Mendoza has ordered suspension of operations of Besta Shipping Lines, owner of Baleno 9. The management of Baleno 9 has offered to pay for the burial and hospitalization expenses of the passengers.
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