At least twelve victims were found inside the MV Catalyn B, which sank after colliding with a fishing vessel off Cavite on Christmas Eve, as Coast Guard divers were able to locate the ill-fated passenger boat last Sunday, officials said Monday.

The recovery of the trapped victims would bring to at least 15 the confirmed deaths in the MV Catalyn sinking.

Rescuers, meanwhile, failed to find more survivors from another passenger ferry that capsized in Batangas Saturday night, raising fears that the eventual death toll in the incident would increase from the six confirmed fatalities so far.

This developed as Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, Coast Guard commandant, relieved the Coast Guard detachment commander in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro following the sinking of the roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ferry MV Baleno 9 while on its way to Batangas.

The MV Baleno was carrying 88 people when it capsized off Verde Island in Batangas after it left Calapan at 9 p.m. Saturday. Six bodies have been recovered from the site while 23 remained missing and are feared to have gone down with the vessel.

"The survivors said the ship went down in seconds and other people did not get out, so the missing bodies may still be inside," said Ma. Elena Bautista, head of the Maritime Industry Authority or Marina.

Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Commander Armand Balilo said auxiliary divers found 12 bodies inside the Catalyn B on Sunday afternoon.

The wooden hulled passenger boat sank in seconds after colliding with the larger FB Anatalia, a fishing boat, on the early morning of December 24. The Catalyn B was on its way to Lubang Island in Mindoro.

The MV Baleno 9, for its part, sank apparently after encountering strong waves.

The government has suspended the operations of all the other ships of Besta Lines, the owner of the MV Baleno 9.

For his part, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said the capsizing of the MV Baleno 9 could have been avoided had the operators of the vessel put premium on passenger safety rather than money, as he expressed disappointment that people’s lives have been sacrificed again due to human neglect.

“It could have been avoided if only they put prime consideration to giving better service to the people,” Arguelles said.

“It is not an act of God, as some may say. It is the neglect of man that sometimes causes these things,” he said.

“This news is really saddening… we are saddened about this especially since we are about to celebrate our centennial year,” he added.

The prelate asked the public to pray for the victims of the sea tragedy.

The Philippine National Red Cross for its part said it will exhaust all search and rescue efforts until all passengers of the ill-fated RORO vessel are retrieved.

PNRC Chairman and Sen. Richard Gordon said Red Cross operations will continue to provide assistance, including psychological treatment, to survivors who are under a state of shock as a result of the sea mishap.

“Aside from helping in the search and rescue operations, Red Cross teams will continue to be stationed on the shores to provide first aid and psychological treatment to the survivors,” he said.

“We will not stop until the other missing passengers have been found.”

Gordon said the Red Cross has been augmenting rescue and retrieval efforts since 1 a.m. Sunday.

The senator ordered the deployment of four rubber boats with generators, four ambulances, and several vehicles, including one six-wheeler truck. (With reports from Leslie Ann G. Aquino and Hannah L. Torregoza)