Toll in Philippines ferry capsize rises to six

The toll from the sinking of a ship off Panaoan island in the central Philippine province of Southern Leyte has climbed to six, the Philippine Navy said Monday.

Marineth Domingo, spokesman of the Philippine Navy, said Navy personnel have retrieved three more bodies during their search and rescue operations, Xinhua reported.

Domingo, however, failed to say whether the bodies of two females and one male were that of the three passengers who were reported missing.

The ill-fated ship, M/V Maharlika II, sank while en route to Liloan town in Southern Leyte province from Lipata town in Surigao province Saturday night.

Military officials said the ship encountered a steering problem as it was being battered by big waves.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, however, said the incident was not "directly related" to typhoon Kalmaegi (local name "Luis"), which made landfall in northern Philippines.

Philippine authorities said only 84 passengers and crew were listed on the ship's manifest.

They said many were not listed on the vessel's manifest considering that the number of survivors has reached 113.