Family seeks justice for missing fisherman

CEBU, Philippines - The family of the missing fisherman who was among the 76 who were allegedly forced to work without pay in Cebu-based commercial fishing vessels in Palawan is crying for justice.

The incident happened last December 17 yet but was only confirmed yesterday when the fisherman’s brother and a cousin arrived along with 26 fellow Cebuanos and 50 others from Bohol who escaped and were rescued in the town of Balabac in the southwesternmost part of Palawan last Tuesday.

The family has requested anonymity for security reasons as boat operator Ramir Noval and boat captain, a certain Boy, are based in Lapu-Lapu City.

The Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking, the Province of Cebu and some non-governmental organizations have filed charges for human trafficking and forced labor against Noval and Boy yesterday.

The brother said they were assured by Boy that they will not turn their backs on their obligations.

“Paabot mi sud sa pila ka semana, way Boy ug manager nga niatubang namo. Ang kaguol sa akong mama di mabayran sapi sa iya anak nga nawa. Mangita gyud ko hustisya sa na-missing nako nga magwang,” he said during a press conference yesterday.

The 26 Cebuano fishermen were presented yesterday by Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale to the media.

“Gusto nako pangitaon ang hustisya hain ang ako anak, sakit kaayo sa akong buot nga mawagtang lang akong anak sa kausa, di nako madawat,” the mother said.

Lawyer Chad Estella, who assisted the victims, thanked them for personally holding Boy when they arrived in Bohol until they were ferried to Cebu last Wednesday.

Boy reportedly went along with the fishermen when the Navy boat ferried them to Tagbilaran City in Bohol from Palawan.

“Mapasalamaton ko sila gyud ang nangunay og dakop sa recruiter kuyog from Palawan to Bohol, ilang gidakop,” Estella said.

The families asked for security for their family.

Davide said he will ask Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza to provide security to the victims who were mostly her constituents. Davide will also ask the help of the Police Regional Office-7.

As the provincial government extends assistance, Davide appealed to the victims to stand on their complaints.

“Hunahunaon gyud ninyo kining kasoha bug-at kini ug kahibalo kamo nga unsa’y inyo’ng naagian, gi-exploit kamo, gipahimuslan kamo, inyo gyud barugan ang inyong kiha,” Davide said.

October last year, the 26 fishermen, two of whom are from Cordova, one  from Tuburan, and the rest from Lapu-lapu City, were recruited and given P7,000 advance pay and another P8,000 on November prior their departure.

When they arrived in the seawaters off Balabac in Palawan, they were allegedly forced to dive even during bad weather, mauled, and provided limited foods for more than a month until they found a way to escape by tearing the fish net so they needed to go on shore for repair.

The group decided to go to the mountain and asked for help from a priest who coordinated with the Palawan provincial government.  (FREEMAN)