Buenafe braves high seas to get to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe had quite an ordeal on his way to Cebu from Naga City in Bicol just to open yesterday’s Police-Media Interaction Day or Police-MIND program.

“I almost died just to be here,” said Buenafe in his speech during yesterday’s Police-Mind turnover ceremony.

Buenafe left Cebu City last Friday morning for the 40th day observance since his mother’s death in Naga City. Despite appeals from his family and friends for him to extend his stay, Buenafe insisted on leaving on Saturday.

Danny Ignacio, one of the director’s personal aides, said Buenafe was determined to return to Cebu City in time for the program opening.

From Naga City, Buenafe took his car and drove seven hours to Placer, Masbate.

In Placer, the ro-ro ship scheduled to take them back to Cebu broke down and Buenafe asked his two aides to search for other means of transport to Cebu.

A few hours later, one of his aides reported he managed to rent a small banca powered by a modified chainsaw engine. Buenafe had to leave his car behind in Placer together with another aide.

Buenafe said from Placer it was a harrowing six-hour trip to Barangay Maya, Daanbantayan town, Cebu, with huge waves pounding at them from all directions.

Ignacio said the improvised chainsaw engine also malfunctioned, leaving them dead in the water for a few minutes.

“The banca was gradually taking in seawater. Our boat nearly sank. We were soaked because of the big waves,” he said. 

They safely docked in Daanbantayan around 11 p.m. Sunday. 

Over 20 members of the Defense-PNP Press Corps were given the chance to head various key positions in the local police force. Chito Aragon, a local radio and newspaper correspondent, assumed as CCPO director.

Cebu City Police Coordinating and Advisory Council chairman Eugene Elizalde, Philip Zafra and former councilman Procopio “Coping” Fernandez also attended the turnover ceremony yesterday.

The participating mediamen are set to undergo a debriefing about their experiences today. (FREEMAN)