Thieves hit sunk cargo vessel

CEBU, Philippines - Thieves struck the cargo vessel that sank off barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City and took its radar and anchor.

Andy Berame of Task Force Kalikasan said inspectors discovered Sunday that some things were missing.

“Nawala na ang radar sa barko ug ingon man ang angkla usab niini ug gikuha kini sa wala mailhing mga tawo,” Berame told Mayor Paz Radaza yesterday.

Mayor said she has directed the police to check all junkshops.

But the mayor said she is more concerned about the possible damage to marine resources in the area if the owner fails to remove the vessel.

Radaza reiterated her appeal to the owner of the sunken vessel to remove the vessel immediately.

Last week, Radaza, through the City Attorney’s Office, sent a letter to Benjamin Go, owner of the sunken vessel, asking him remove the vessel.

Coast Guard officials said M/V B & E sank last July 1, within the waters of Lapu-Lapu City, less than a mile from the shores of barangay Canjulao.

Mayor Radaza said she is concerned because the ship sank with its cargo of 23,000 sacks of cement.

The mayor said this is aside from the ton of fuel and oil the said cargo vessel has in its tanks.

She told Go that cement, fuel, and oil are substances that immediately cause irreparable and severe damage to the marine environment.

The mayor said the imminence and extent of adverse environmental impact thereof indeed cannot be overemphasized.

“You should also known that our people especially those of the barangays near the area where your mentioned cargo vessel sank, heavily rely on the resources from the marine environment in the area not only as source of livelihood but as source of daily food as well,” Radaza told Go.

BFAR chemist Luzviminda Bato said city officials and the Coast Guard are watching the area.