Missing Olango boys: Parents appeal for more help

CEBU, Philippines - The families of three boys from Sitio Kauswagan, Barangay Baring, Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City who went missing after going out to sea last Sunday appealed for more people to help them locate their sons.

“Maayo unta daghan mutabang namo. Naa lang untay helicopter kay di magsilbi ang bangka kay kusog ang bawod dili makita ang gisakyan nga bangka sa mga bata,” said Gregorio Daño, 36.

His son, Shawn Michael, nine, was among the three who are now the subject of a search operation after they failed to return home.  The other boys were Jose Maria Edgardo Retullido, 16, and Aaron Hida, 15.

The city government, Philippine Navy, and Olango Police Station have launched a joint effort to locate the three children.

Distraught parents Gregorio and Marilou Hida, 41, went to one of the islets of Bohol province yesterday along with Baring Barangay Captain Rumolo Wagwag Olango Police Station personnel in the hope of finding the missing children there.

Also yesterday, a chopper from the Central Command was activated to conduct aerial search after the city government requested for it the other day.

City Risk Reduction Management Council Deputy Officer Andy Berame said the chopper flew above the waters off the islands of Camotes and Bohol province for two hours starting past 10 a.m.

“We looked…but negative gihapon ta.  We will again request for the use of chopper for another aerial search. A boat from Philippine Navy is on-stand by. Kung naay makit-an, ilahang adtuon. The group who actively searched for the missing children are (that from) the Olango Police Station,” he said.

“Walay tulganay, sige ko og hilak kay makahinumdum ko sa iyahang mga lihok.  Motabang man gyud to nako og trabaho.  Giingnan gani ko sa akong paris nga ang tawo kuno kung naay kinutoban, dawaton nalang kuno nako,” said Marilou of her son Aaron.

“Pero di man nako madalidali og dawat, kay akong bata but-an to uy. Mao gyud ni akong gihangyo sa Ginoo nga ipakita na sa ako ang akong anak,” she said as tears fell down her checks.

Aaron is the eldest of her four children and was responsible for looking after his siblings while Marilou does the laundry of her neighbors for a living.

“Naandan nako nga kada alas 10 sa buntag ako suguon akong laing anak nga ingnon siya sa paglung-ag og kan-on; apan nag alas 12 nalang wala na man nako nakit-an,” she said on the day Aaron failed to do his assigned task.

All Marilou knew was that Aaron was with his cousins Shawn and Jose Maria.

It was after lunchtime when one of her relatives was looking for their child when they learned that Aaron, Shawn and Jose ventured out to the sea onboard a small boat.

“Dili man to siya hilig og dagat kay di man to kamao mulangoy. Kahibawo ra to siya moduwa og computer,” Marilou said.

Gregorio said he warned Shawn not to go to the sea because of the strong undercurrent.

“Wa nako sugoa nga muadto sa dagat kay nanguha ra man to sila og bato sa kalsada. Naay duha ka lalaki nga mitintal ni Shawn nga mamasol sila sa dagat. Naa pud laing usa ka bata nga mitambag niya nga dili mamasol kay hangin ron. Miingon balik ang katung kaistorya nilang nga bata nga swerte-swerte lang kung mamatay maayo, niana man sad tong bata oy,” he said.

The area wherein Gregorio and his relatives live is near the shore. He was told the four missing boys and a boy nicknamed Dibdib were just walking by the seashore when they found a small boat and used it in going out to sea.

Since the boat, owned by a certain Pario Agus could only accommodate three, Dibdib got left behind, thus sparing his parents from the anguish that parents of Aaron, Shawn, and Jose are feeling right now.

“Mura man og nagdali sila, maong nawagtang sila og kalit. Mao na diay to nisakay na og baroto. Mura ra siya’g wala kay abi niya naa ray nagbantay sa may pantalan,” said Gregorio of his son.

Of the three missing boys, only Shawn knew how to swim.

“Mas maguwang pa man unta to sila, wala man intawon nakabadlong,” Gregorio lamented, referring to Aaron and Jose.

All Gregorio and the other parents could do as they join the search parties is hope and pray his son and his nephews are alright.  (FREEMAN)