Pa gets ‘greatest b-day gift’: son back alive after 20-hr sea ordeal

CEBU, Philippines -  The father of a 22-year-old fisherman who went missing with his uncle for 20 hours in Tañon Strait decided to slaughter a white pig instead of a chicken on his birthday yesterday when he learned that his son was rescued safe.

Police Officer 3 Dante Teaño, desk officer, said that Charlie Vince Arcabal, and his uncle Danny Plaza, 43, both from Barangay Anapog, San Remigio town went fishing on Friday afternoon but they did not come home yesterday morning.

Tañon Strait is the body of water separating the island of Cebu from Negros.  Teaño added that Arcabal and Plaza went fishing Friday afternoon but Arcabal’s father Carlito grew weary because they were supposed to return to home.

“Nanagat pagka-alas 2:00 sa hapon sa petsa dos ug nabantayan nga nawala pagka-ugma na sa alas 7:30 sa buntag wala na mauli. Sagad nga mauli ang duha sa alas 5:00 sa buntag busa ang amahan ni Charlie Vince nga si Carlito Arcabal, nireport sa kapolisan, petsa 3 sa Enero,” Teaño said.

He added that after the missing person report, search and rescue ope-rations have been conducted by the Coast Guard personnel in Hagnaya and of the Bantay Dagat personnel.

Past 1:00 p.m. yesterday, the police station received a report that the missing persons were rescued by LCT Barcelon, a cargo ship, floating in the middle of Tañon Strait near Escalante City Negros Oriental.

Charlie Vince’s father Carlito, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, was filled with joy when he knew that his son was alive, saying that this could be the best birthday gift that he received in his life.

“Nagbirthday ang amahan karon (yesterday) imbis manok ang ihawon baboy na lang gyud kay daghan na man sang tawo nga naa sa ilaha kay nangumusta sa iyang anak,” Teaño added.

After they were rescued, they were brought to Escalante City and were subjected to a physical examination in the nearby hospital.

“Ala una sa hapon (kagahapon) naay nireport sa kapolisan nga ang nangawala nga tawo nabangalan sa LCT Barcelona cargo ship, didto sa Tañon Strait habig sa Escalante City Negros Oriental pasado alas 10:00 kagahapon sa buntag,” Teaño added.

After the medical examination was conducted, they were transported from Escalante City to Tabuelan town to be with their respective families.

Their families went to Tabuelan for their reunion with the two missing persons after their 20 hour ordeal in the sea.

Teaño said that the big waves and heavy rain and strong wind might have caused their three and a half horsepower motorized banca to capsize in the middle of the sea.  He added that they have received reports that the motorized banca was found in Barangay Molobolo in Tuburan town. —JMD (FREEMAN)