Three kids missing after setting out to fish

CEBU, Philippines - Three children have been missing since the other day after they allegedly went fishing in the waters off Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City on board a small boat last Sunday around 11 a.m.

Jose Maria Eduardo Daño, 15; Aaron Hida, 15; and Shaun Michael Daño, 9, set off to fish despite warnings issued by the weather agency, said Senior Police Office 1 James Ariel Fuentes of Olango Police Station 1.

Motorboats were ordered grounded earlier that day due to strong currents, Fuentes said, but the sailing of small motorized pump boats resumed that afternoon since the weather turned “manageable”.

Recent reports said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration in Mactan issued a gale warning around 5 a.m. last Saturday, prohibiting all kinds of sea transportation due to rough seas and to avoid open sea accidents.

Despite the warnings, the three children who are all residents of Barangay Baring in Olango Island, went out to sea in a small boat.

“According to their parents, it was their routine to go out and catch fish since they have no classes and that they know how to swim,” he said.

Fuentes said as their search went on, they sought assistance from the coast guard units assigned in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City, after they found no trace of the boat or the missing children.

Relatives also helped in looking for the children but to no avail, police said. The search for them was ongoing as of last night.

Waves batter houses

Meanwhile, at least five houses were damaged by big waves and strong winds in Sitio Litmon, Barangay Poblacion, Talisay City, last Sunday.

Litmon resident Nilo Omay told The FREEMAN that he immediately moved his belongings to a safer place when big waves started to batter the seawall. He said the waves were “as tall as buildings”.

“Bisan pa ug naay seawall ang bawod pwerte gihapon mulampornas,” said Omay.

Another resident, Danny Nebria, and his wife had to collect their belongings after waves smashed into their house and swept their belongings away. Strong winds also blew away their G.I. sheet roof.

Their neighbor, Joel Baral, said that most of them did not get a good nights’ sleep since they had to evacuate their children to a safer house while they stayed behind to make sure looters would not take advantage of their absence.

“Nagpabilin lang ko sa amoang balay kay haron naay mobantay,” he said.

The house of Baral’s son was also partially destroyed by huge waves.

Pedrita Capangpangan said only their clothes were swept away by the waves. Even as she washed them she expressed thankfulness that no one in her family was swept away.

The affected residents are now hoping that the city officials will look into their problems.

“Nanghinaut lang mi, sir, nga unta matagad ang amung problema. Naa pud unta silay buhaton sa panahon nga ingon ini,” Capangpangan added. — /BRP (FREEMAN)