Search halted; retrieval up for 3 missing children

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council called off its search operation for the three children from Olango Island who went missing October 18 and instead activated its retrieval team.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said she wants to meet the families of Jose Maria Eduardo Retullido and Aaron Hida, both 15, and Shawn Michael, 9. The children were reportedly cousins and neighbors in Sitio Kauswagan, Barangay San Vicente, Olango Island.

 “I let our disaster officer to give me a report. I initially met them during the time of search operations and I wanted to meet them again or write a letter to them,” Radaza told reporters.

 The search operation of the city government’s DRRMC and Olango Police Station started with a use of motorized boats. When efforts proved futile, they later requested Central Command’s chopper for aerial search. Still, the results were negative. 

As several weeks passed, Radaza thought chances in finding the children alive at sea are already slim. She said consoling the families might be the best to do so they can slowly accept the eventualities.

 “At this time, would you want to hope more? Dili naman siguro. It’s more on retrieval now. At this time, we are communicating neighboring cities and municipalities (in case they see the children’s bodies,” Radaza said.

 She said the City’s Social Welfare and Development office is coordinating with the families and that so far they were given food.

 “Financial assistance is yet to be discussed,” she said.

In the morning of October 18, Sunday, the children ventured out to the sea while riding a small non-motorized boat reportedly to catch fish. However, they were not able to go back home.

 Gregorio Dano, Shawn’s father and uncle of Jose Maria and Aaron, said they were not allowed to venture out to the sea due to bad weather condition as they were only told to look for stones to be placed on their IG sheets of their house.  (FREEMAN)