Published June 28, 2008 6:45am
MANILA, Philippines - The first batch of divers from Romblon to arrived in Manila for medical checkups Friday night got an initial clean bill of health, but were to undergo more tests Saturday. PO1 Edison Manuel, one of the divers who underwent initial medical test Friday night at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), said early Saturday morning that doctors found no signs of poisoning from endosulfan, a toxic chemical used as pesticide. As of Friday night, doctors said we were okay. But they instructed us to return to East Avenue Medical Center for more tests, Manuel said in Filipino over dzXL radio. When asked if any representative of Sulpicio went to talk to them Friday, he said there was none. DZBB reported that the first batch included 36 divers from the Navy, Coast Guard and Philippine National Police Maritime Group. It said the first batch of divers was flown in from Romblon province Friday afternoon. A second batch of 40 divers, plus three volunteers, was due to arrive at Villamor Air Base Friday night. The second batch was to head to the EAMC as well. The divers were recalled from ground zero after the National Disaster Coordinating Council learned that a container van with pesticide. - GMANews.TV
Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy were given a clean bill of health from any effects from the toxic waters surrounding the sunken passenger ferry, MV Princess of the Stars off the coast of Romblon province.

Fifty six diving personnel tasked to retrieve bodies of passengers trapped inside the ferry will undergo more tests on Saturday for any ill effects from pesticides that are suspected to have leaked in the cargo hold of the ferry.

Retrieval operations for the bodies of passengers were suspended on Friday when the cargo manifest of the ship showed large quantities of a highly toxic pesticide called endosulfan. 

Authorities feared that the pesticides could have contaminated the waters around the sunken ferry and could prove fatal to the diving crew.

Divers started to complain on Thursday of experiencing skin irritation after surfacing.

The Philippines government slammed the ferry's owners for not immediately divulging the contents of the ferry's cargo hold and threatened to add other possible criminal charges against the owners.

Environment officials are concerned that the pesticide could cause a severe damage to the delicate aquatic environment around Romblon province.