No new survivor or body recovered from cargo ship that sank off Vietnam, says Palace

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. Screenshot from May 14 press briefing.

MANILA — Three days after a Bahamian cargo ship sank off the coast of Vietnam, no new survivor or body has been found, a Palace official said on Monday.

“Ang latest update from the Philippine Embassy in Hanoi is that there are no new remains recovered or survivors rescued aside from the earlier two bodies recovered, which are now in Ho Chi Minh City, and the one survivor who was rescued,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

Secretary Lacierda noted that Vietnam’s Navy has added three helicopters to the search efforts and has called on other countries in the area to help in the search.

“We are asking the Secretary of National Defense if we can extend assistance.

Tinitingnan ngayon,” he said.

He further said that a team from the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Honorary Consul in Ho Chi Minh City are coordinating with the shipping agent over the incident.

The cargo vessel Bulk Jupiter sank on Friday en route from Malaysia to China, about 150 nautical miles from Vietnam’s southern city of Vung Tau.

According to reports, the ship has an all-Filipino crew.