MANILA, Philippines—ABS-CBN cameraman Fernando Estrada, a passenger of the ill-fated MV SuperFerry 9—which sank off Zamboanga del Norte last Sunday—died possibly because he tried to bring heavy equipment with him to shore, even if he did not know how to swim, witnesses said.

“Hindi n’ya pinabayaan ang mga camera. He brought them with him when he jumped into the water,” Olivia Lamasan told Inquirer Entertainment during a gathering for the movie “In My Life” at the ABS-CBN offices in Quezon City on Tuesday. “A co-worker named Boyet told us that Kulot (Estrada’s nickname) had asked for his help. Kulot said, ‘Wag mo akong papabayaan.’ Boyet told him, ‘Pareho lang tayong hindi marunong lumangoy. Dapat magpakatatag ka.’ Kulot had a life jacket on, but the camera bag was just too heavy. He also suffered hypothermia.”

Shooting in GenSan

Estrada, a behind-the-scenes cameraman, was among 12 fatalities in the tragedy. He was part of a team that worked on the Star Cinema comedy film, “Ang Tanging Pamilya: A Marry Go Round,” in General Santos City in South Cotabato. The movie features former President Joseph Estrada, comedienne Ai Ai de las Alas and Dionisia Pacquiao, mother of Filipino boxing champion Manny Paqcuiao.

Estrada will be laid to rest at 2 p.m. today at the Holy Haven Eternal Park in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

“I cried really hard when I learned about his death two days ago,” said Lamasan. “He was on the set of ‘In My Life’ a few days before he left for Gen San.”

Lamasan said ABS-CBN is coordinating with SuperFerry management to make sure that the latter will cover all of Estrada’s funeral expenses. His family will also receive financial assistance from Star Cinema.

Lamasan added: “Some of Kulot’s friends said they had premonitions of his death. A field cashier said that before Kulot went up the ferry, he looked at her but she could not make out his face; it was blurry. The others said Kulot wore a sad face before he climbed the ship. What happened made us appreciate our co-workers more. We always have to make them feel how special they are.”