Fisherman missing after sea incident

CEBU, Philippines - Authorities are in continued search for a fisherman who went missing in the seawaters off Alcoy following an incident involving the man's fishing boat and a cargo vessel last Saturday afternoon.

The missing fisherman was identified as Christopher Aguitong, 32, a resident of neighboring Dalaguete town.

PO3 Emilio Carungay told The FREEMAN that Aguitong went fishing with two companions - Armando Edillon, 24, and Tirso Belista, 26, last Saturday morning.

At around 10:30 a.m., water reportedly started to get into their fishing boat through a hole in the hull. The three could no longer maneuver the boat so they were adrift for four hours.

Around this time, the M/V Sunroad Tyatsuka, was heading to the wharf of the Philippine Mining Service Corporation to fetch cargo from Dolomite Mining Corporation in Barangay Pugalo in Alcoy. However, the vessel could not enter the wharf just yet because it was scheduled to dock at 6 a.m. yesterday, Sunday.

At around 2 p.m., the vessel's captain, Ogune Yefohiko, reportedly spotted the three fishermen and decided that they rescue them.

"Mu-dock unta ang cargo pero ang ilang schedule nga maka-dock sa wharf kay 6:00 a.m. pa man maong ilang gi-rescue ning mga biktima," Carungay said.

However, seeing the vessel come their way, the fishermen might have thought that the ship would hit them, thus, they decided to jump off the fishing boat and swim.

Initial investigation revealed that Aguitong was not able to jump off the fishing boat right away and Carungay said it is possible that he might have drowned. He reportedly does not know how to swim.

"Nahibilin ning missing kay di man ni kahibalo mulangoy unya duda ko nasuyop nis barko kay buwag man sila nanglayat nagtuo tingale sila nga ligsan unya nangaratol," Carungay said.

Carungay said the rescued fishermen alleged that the vessel actually hit their fishing boat, but evidence reportedly showed otherwise. The fishing boat, for one, was not damaged.

"Maoy alleged nila nga nabangaan pero wa may tatsa ang sakayan kay kung naigo pa mapulpog gyud imagina kahoy ug puthaw," Carungay said.

The vessel reportedly searched for Aguitong until 6 p.m. but failed to retrieve him.

Carungay said Aguitong's family initially said they are not interested in filing charges against the vessel as long as they would be given financial assistance.

The crew of the vessel, Carungay said, assured they would cooperate in any investigation. —/JMO (FREEMAN)