| Luthgardo Niedo | |
| Occupation: | Soldier of Philippine Constabulary |
| Known For: | Surviving collision and sinking of MV Doña Paz |
Luthgardo Niedo is a former Philippine Constabulary soldier who survived the MV Doña Paz tragedy.[1] [2]
On December 20, 1987, in Leyte, Tacloban, Philippines, Luthgardo Neido was joined with a thousand other Constabulary soldiers who boarded the Doña Paz.
Niedo became familiar to the overcrowding of such vessels, he described: “‘It was so crowded’, I told myself, ‘it must be nearly overcrowded since it's Christmas.’” He also mentioned that the ship was listing one side.
Before disaster would strike, Neido was informed by one of his men that the captain, Eusibio Nazareno, was watching a movie on his Betamax TV, and the other crewmen were playing games, partying, and drinking beer.[3] On the bridge, there was only one lookout (supposedly who didn't know of the collision till the last minute).
Niedo heard and felt the effects of the collision from the Paz and Vector as it was going “clang, clang”.
Upon encountering the fiery inferno, Niedo claimed he was the first to go into the water and had begun to swim away to safety.
Niedo was the only man of the constabulary to survive among 26 other survivors. His other Constabulary men died in the inferno.
In the aftermath of the Doña Paz tragedy, Niedo self-taught stated: “I would never ride a ship again” foreshadowing the horrific events unfolded.
Among several survivors who shared the accounts of the incident, Niedo appeared in the documentary Asia's Titanic (2009).[4]