JAPAN SEA TRAGEDY

Bishop pleads for resumption of search for survivors from sunken ship Published September 24, 2020 11:00am An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on Wednesday appealed to the shipowner of the livestock vessel that sank off Japan on September 2 to resume search operations for missing seafarers, mostly Filipinos. In a report on CBCP News --a Catholic online news service --Bishop Ruperto Santos, vice chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, called for the search to continue, saying, “We are making a direct and strong appeal to the shipowner, Gulf Navigation Holding, to resume the searching.” Likewise, he appealed for support, in every possible way, for the respective families of those still missing at sea. Santos, who is also the bishop-promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea – Philippines, said he is hoping that the crew are found alive. “We continue to pray that others may have somehow survived this tragic incident,” the prelate said. On the other hand, the bishop appealed to the Philippine government not only to extend assistance to the families, but also to request neighboring countries to help in the search and rescue operations. Two rescued Filipino crew members of the sunken cargo ship have already returned home. On September 5, three days after the sinking of the cattle ship, the Japanese Coast Guard said it was still searching for the more than 40 crew members who have remained missing. Gulf Livestock 1, which left Napier Port bound for China carrying thousands of cattle and 43 crew members, including 39 Filipinos, sank on Sept. 2 after Typhoon Maysak struck at sea. At least three Filipinos have so far been rescued but one later died. Thirty-six Filipinos, two Australians and two New Zealanders are missing. —LBG, GMA News

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