Ten and counting. Ten new "heroes" of the Nov. 11 crash of La-oag International Airlines (LIA) flight 585 stepped forward Wednesday after photos of the Naga family receiving their cash reward for plucking out survivors from Manila Bay were published in newspapers.
"We are verifying their claim but so far the members of the Naga family have confirmed that these (newly surfaced heroes) were with them," said Lt. Armand Balilo, a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard.
Balilo yesterday sent his men to get the names and interview the no- longer-obscure 10 in their seaside homes in Tambo, Parañaque. He said they will also ask their intelligence personnel to double check the claim.
"But the problem is we have sent our (final) report to Malacañang. We will just make another report and let them (Malacañang) decide on it," the PCG spokesman said.
The Naga family — Edgar, his son Elorde, 12, brother Crispulo, and adopted son Rico Cayabyab, 15, personally received at Malacañang last Tuesday their reward from President Arroyo. The adults were given a check worth P50,000 each.
LIA management, on the other hand, promised the boys scholarships and the family new fishing nets and livelihood assistance.
The four are fishermen who were among the first to arrive at the crash site that fateful early Monday morning, around one kilometer from the coast of Manila Bay, and saved many of the passengers.
Balilo noted the 10 new claimants were neighbors of the Naga family in Parañaque’s depressed fishing community.
The formerly low profile 10 were reportedly on board three boats — five in one, two in the another, and three in the third — as they helped in the rescue effort.
On board the MB Gift of God were Jun Cabalchera, 29; Virgilio Dequina, 40; Elboy Uliantes, 20; Junny Padilla, 22; Ronnel Maldos, 29.
On board MB Lucky Seven were Rey Pidel and a still unidentified companion. And three more good Samaritans were on board a blue banca.
Balilo said they can also verify the claim of the fishermen’s presence since they have a record of the fishing boats that were involved in the rescue effort before the PCG men arrived.
A total of 15 passengers and crew of the Fokker plane were saved while 19 died, nine of them British and Australian tourists.