More remains recovered from MV Princess of the Stars

MANILA, Philippines - Four years after the passenger and cargo ship MV Princess of the Stars sank off Romblon province, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is still looking for skeletal remains from the ill-fated vessel.

PCG-Special Operations Group (SOG) chief Lt. Commander Marco Antonio Gines said yesterday they still have divers deployed in Sibuyan Island.

“As of this month, we have recovered 40 skeletal remains. But we cannot yet determine if these bones only belonged to one person or to 40 people,” said Gines.

Forensic experts would turn over these skeletal remains to the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) for examination, he said.

Gines gave assurance that they are committed to help recover more skeletal remains from the ill-fated ship, even as he expressed hope the PCG-SOGs could get back its compressor from Sibuyan Island.

“Since there is no dive shop in Sibuyan Island, they need the compressor to refill their oxygen tanks. But there are instances, especially during other search and rescue missions, when it would be better if we had two compressors at our disposal,” he said.

The MV Princess of the Stars left the Port of Manila on June 20, 2008 on a voyage to Cebu. However, before noon the following day, the ship was met by strong winds, big waves and heavy rain spawned by typhoon “Frank” upon reaching Sibuyan Island.

Only 33 of the ship’s 864 passengers and crew survived. At least 500 died while around 300 remain missing.

The vessel was owned and operated by Sulpicio Lines Inc., which has since been renamed Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp.