Filipino families of sunken ship crew plead for search to resume

MANILA, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Families of 39 Filipino crewmen
who were aboard a cattle ship that sank during a typhoon are
pleading for a search to continue and to expand into uninhabited
islands and nearby waters, two weeks after their vessel capsized
off Japan.
In tears during an online news conference, family members
urged authorities to resume a massive search effort, after
Japan's coastguard suspended its rescue last week. Of the ship's 43 crew, three were rescued - all Filipinos -
but one later died after being found unconscious. Thirty-six
Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two Australians are missing.
"We are getting frustrated not knowing where they are," said
Liberty Seneres, wife of chief engineer, Aristotle Sabillena.
"We are worried. But there still is hope that they are still
alive."
The group called on the Philippine government to resume the
search and expand it to waters off South Korea, Taiwan and
China.
They urged the manpower agency that supplied the crew, LMA
Korpil, to send resources for a rescue mission and the ship's
owner, the United Arab Emirates-based Gulf Navigation Holding
PJSC, to start private operations or deploy professional divers.
Gulf Livestock 1, which left Napier Port bound for China
carrying nearly 6,000 cattle, sank on Sept. 2 after Typhoon
Maysak struck at sea.
"We also believe there are some survivors - if not all -
either on those rafts or nearby uninhabited islands just waiting
for someone to care enough to keep searching. But we must act
now," said Fredelyn Addug-Sanchez, sister of ship captain Dante
Addug.
She said for those unable to escape, recovery of their
remains would at least provide some closure.
"Let's work together and bring our boys home, they are worth
our effort," she said.
The Philippine foreign ministry, Korpil and Gulf Navigation
did not immediately respond to requests for comment.