PAF ends aerial search for missing Bicol fishers

LEGAZPI CITY — The Philippine Air Force has ended its aerial search for 12 Camarines Norte fishermen who were reported missing on Christmas Day, the regional Office of Civil Defense said.

Huey helicopters from the PAF’s 505th Wing and the Army’s South Luzon Command terminated their search after their two-day operation yielded nothing.

Boy Reyes, operations officer of the Camarines Norte Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, said only the decomposing bodies of Danilo Forcales, skipper of F/V Angelina, and two of his men had been found.

Reyes said the fishing vessel was spotted off Sulong Bato Island in Mercedes town, where it could have possibly capsized.

The nine missing fishermen were identified as Marcos Ocampo, Bersal Bonion, Junior Ayson, all of Mercedes town; Lando Forcales, Dodong Dancolos, Michael Agarez, Zaldo Lavarro, and Ruben Espinosa, all of Sta. Elena town; and Sonny Abrantes, of Tinambac, Camarines Sur.

Reyes said the seaborne search and retrieval operation will continue until tomorrow.

He urged residents of coastal barangays to report sightings of bodies which could be those of the missing fishermen.