Six of the 20 Filipino crew of a cargo ship which sank off Lebanon last week remain missing and feared dead, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. At least 13 have been rescued and one died after the Danny F 2 sank in stormy weather off the coast of Lebanon Thursday on its way from the Uruguay capital of Montevideo to the Syrian port of Tartus carrying thousands of sheep and cattle. Twelve of 13 Filipino seafarers who were rescued from a ill-fated ship have been taken to Tripoli, Libya, while another was taken to Tartus, the DFA) said. It said the remains of the Filipino who died have already been identified as Manuel Calaor. The rescued Filipino seafarers are Danilo Policarpio, Wilson Vicente, Lezer Gepulgani, Michel Olivia, Edgardo Pucan, Jonathan Rada, Rafael Tarroza, Erasm Galanza, Leolen Babao, Rogelio Dequina, Joebert Benoman, Jowey Quinto and Jason Magsino. Those still not found are Leonardo Tiongson, Fuller Edgar, Manuel Bordas Jr., Benedicto Cruz, Enrico Librada and Vilter Amit. The next of kin of the lone fatality and the missing seafarers have been notified by their manning agency of the incidents, the DFA said in a statement. The Philippine embassy in Beirut is closely monitoring the search and the condition of those who were rescued, the DFA said. In a report to the DFA, Charge d'Affaires Mohd. Noordin Pendosina Lomondot said the embassy has sent Labor Attache Nathaniel Lacambra and officers of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration welfare officers to Tripoli to assist the rescued seamen. The embassy is closely coordinating with the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants and the Ministry of the Interior on the search for the missing Filipino seamen, the DFA said. The Philippine embassy in Damascus told the DFA that the seafarer rescued in Tartus, Syria, was already in its custody. Charge d' Affaires Marlowe Miranda at the embassy in Damascus said the seafarer had undergone medical examinations and was found to be in good condition. He said the embassy staff has prepared his documents and was ready to process the exit visa for his repatriation. Miranda also said the remains of the lone Filipino fatality, Manuel Calaor, was found in Lattakia, a town 375 kilometers off Damascus. He said embassy is closely coordinating with the manning agency for the shipment of Calaor's remains and the repatriation of the Filipino survivors. The ship had 83 crew of different nationalities.
