Four fishermen missing at sea

Four people have been reported missing as foul weather continued to pound the Visayas area yesterday according to reports of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council.

All four missing are fishermen. Two of them are from the town of Madridejos, Cebu while two others are from Basay town, Negros Oriental.

The missing fishers from Madridejos have been identified as Jayson Maru and Mamerto Juliano. They reportedly went fishing last Wednesday and haven't returned home yet.

The two reportedly went out to sea despite warnings from authorities to stay on land due to the squall.

The missing Negros fishers were identified as Jay Totika and Dommy Magarinao both from barangay Poblacion of Basay town.

Four others from Basay, who were reported missing early yesterday, were rescued late aternoon. They were identified as Oliver Yap, Jumar Suvelon, Edgardo Sanchez, and Dandan Gumba.

Twelve others have also been rescued in other parts of Central Visayas.

Four were plucked off the seawaters of Maria, Siquijor Thursday night by a passing cargo vessel and were identified as Rommel Nosal, Jumasky Alcantara, Joel Lapasaran, and Johnny Anlao, all of Basay town.

Basay town mayor Beda Caramague informed RDCC-7 director Angel Gaviola that a fishing boat owned by PO3 Marlon Ybalane capsized at the seawaters off their town.

Gaviola said that personnel from the Philippine Air Force coming from the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base scoured the waters off Siquijor to look for the survivors.

One of the survivors related that their boat capsized due to the strong waves. Rescuers haven't spotted the fishing boat yet.



The RDCC-7 also received reports that 30 families were affected when their houses were hit by strong waves in barangays Cawitan, Poblacion, Alargila, Magbalaye and Magalongon in Sta. Catalina town, Negros Oriental.

The Bohol disaster coordinating council also reported that eight houses were damaged in barangays Jagna and Mocpoc in Loon town and barangay Poblacion in Maribojoc town.

Gaviola said they are closely coordinating with local officials to see to the needs of the affected families.

At around 8 a.m. yesterday, crew members of Ocean Jet, rescued eight people from a pump boat that capsized near Bagacay Point in Liloan, Cebu.

Rescued were Jim Cabrera, Roy Gorion, Ariel Romon, Sal Alura, Romeo Balani, Junjun Serenio, Ricky Diaz and Froilan Romo, all residents of Hinutangan, Getafe town, Bohol.

The victims were on board M/B Gio Gril carrying carrageenan for delivery to Mandaue City when the motor boat was hit by strong waves.

The victims have been at sea for three hours when spotted by the crew of the fast craft bound for Hilongos, Leyte.

Ocean Jet 1 captain Cecilio Baroc said that they immediately informed the manager of Ocean Jet, Bernard Maraasin about the people they spotted at sea and were told to continue with the rescue operations.

Maraasin said the victims decided to go with the ship to Hilongos because they have relatives in the place.

"Gusto unta namong pabalikon diri ang walo nga naluwas kay aron mahinabi nao, ug mahatagan sa pag-atiman, pero didto nalang sila kay aduna man sila paryente unya duol na lang sila," Maraasin quoted one of the survivors.

"Bahala ug ma-delay ang arrival sa Leyte kay what is important makatabang ta sa mga tawo naglutaw lutaw sa dagat sud na sa tulo ka oras" Maraasin said.

Petty Officer 3 Ferdinand Manto of the Cebu Coast Guard station said they are still conducting further investigation about the incident.

An estimated 300 families have also been displaced by the waves when their houses in the coastal areas of Talisay City, Cebu were destroyed. - with Ramil V. Ayuman