MANILA, Philippines - Thirty-two floating bodies recovered in a Masbate town for two consecutive days have been buried in a mass grave to prevent a disease outbreak, a Philippine Air Force (PAF) official said Wednesday.
PAF Colonel John Estuesta said that residents of San Pascual municipality retrieved 19 bodies on Tuesday and 13 bodies the day after, citing reports of local officials.
Estuesta, also a commander of the PAF tactical operations group IV, said the bodies have been buried in a mass grave to prevent disease since the corpses were already decomposing.
His group also informed the Philippine Coast Guard that PAF helicopters has spotted at least 20 bodies, all wearing life vests, floating along waters near Burias Island, also in Masbate.
We have sightings of dead bodies, around 20, all in life vests. The Coast Guard knows this already," Estueta said.
He did not say whether the bodies were passengers from the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars.
Earlier, Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo, Navy spokesman, said three bodies were found at 9 am at Balana Point on Burias Island, based on information provided by US Orion aircraft. One of the bodies appeared to be that of a foreigner.
Arevalo added the Navy vessel is heading for a location some 17 nautical miles away from Burias Island where the 32 bodies were sighted, based on details provided by the American airplane primarily designed for maritime patrol and reconnaissance.
He said the 30 bodies - all wearing life vests - apparently died of hypothermia.
Authorities are still searching for the ships 744 passengers.
As of Wednesday morning, Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Rogelio Villanueva, flagship secretary for special concerns, pegged the number of fatalities at 70. A total of 48 individuals survived the tragedy.
The ship had 862 passengers and crew members when it capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon province over the weekend. - GMANews.TV