Bodies of 2 divers found

CEBU, Philippines - Authorities yesterday found the decomposing bodies of two divers who were believed to have drowned in the waters off Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-lapu City.

The Coast Guard Mandaue Detachment identified the fatalities as Alger Sumaylo and Glenn Pahit, both 27, and worked as divers of Omega Steal and Marine Services.

Report showed that at 6 a.m. yesterday, part of Sumaylo’s body was sighted floating in the waters while the rest of his body was stuck beneath a wrecked ship that sank last year.

Sumaylo’s body was almost unrecognizable.

Pahit’s body, on the other hand, was retrieved from the bottom of the ship at around 4 p.m.

The two’s employer, Aurelio Pitogo, claimed that he tasked the two to guard the ship that they have been working on for month. As divers, the two would gradually cut parts of the ship so that these will eventually be brought to shore.

Pitogo said they just wondered in the morning that the two were no longer seen.Since it was low tide, they found Sumaylo’s body floating, prompting them to seek help from the Coast Guard Mandaue Detachment.

Pitogo said he didn’t expect that the two would still dive and get parts of the ship because he did not tell them to, and they have kept their equipment last Wednesday afternoon. The two still had their gloves on.

The employer dismissed the possibility that somebody attacked the two as their things were still intact, including their money.

Coast Guard Station Commander Edilberto Amor said Pitogo may have to face responsibility of the incident. Pitogo assured to shoulder the expenses.

Amor said they will conduct further investigation as to what really caused the victims’ death.

It can be recalled that the MV B and A, a cargo vessel carrying P22 million worth of cement, sank in the waters off Barangay Canjulao in July last year. — /JPM (FREEMAN)