7 "missing" in S. Leyte found alive

CEBU, Philippines – Seven people, including the police chief of the historic Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte, earlier reported to be missing at sea at the height of storm Seniang, were found alive, according to the Maasin City Coast Guard.

The seven were identified as Senior Inspector Richard Castañares, a native of Palo, Leyte; Lourdes Rogador, Clarissa Malunat, Charlotte Malunat, Joanna Juanico, Edna Mae Cabañero and Eusebio Petenio, Jr. the boat operator.

Coast Guard personnel found them alive at Barangay Can-iwan in Maasin City yesterday, a few kilometers from where they surreptitiously sailed off at Barangay San Roque in Macrohon town.

Authorities said the party took off at around 2 p.m. Monday, defying a ban against sailing. By 8:20 p.m., they received a call from the Limasawa Police Station reporting that its chief has not returned and was missing, together with other passengers.

Yesterday afternoon, however, they received a call from Can-iwan that all seven were alive and were taken care of by the officials there.

The seven left Macrohon on board a 16-hp boat M/B Junviel and Kerby on Monday afternoon. CG-Maasin duty officer, SN1 Erwin Lebron said he could not fathom why the Castañares gambled to cross the rough seas for Limasawa when he should have known better, especially that the other passengers were women.