Coast Guard blamed owners of Fishing Boat on the incident: 2 killed 4 missing

BY JONG CADION 

PAGADIAN CITY – At least 2 out of 6 missing fishermen were recovered by the joint operatives of the Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Police during the conduct of search and retrieval operations in the sea waters of Yllana Bay since October 25, 2012 until Sunday morning October 28, 2012 following the typhoon OFEL. 
Zamboanga del Sur, hindi nakaligtas sa hagupit ng “Bagyong Ofel”

SCP Officer Ronald Lazo Tolentino, Acting Station Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PSG) said that the 2 floating cadaver were brought to the Pagadian City Fish Port were identified later by their immediate family as Pedro Sentino Alcala of legal age, married, a resident of Prk. Bagong Buhay, Balangasan District this city and Patricio Albano Calago 35 years old and a resident of Bry. San Pedro also of this City.

Alcala was found floating near the coastal area of Brgy. Bibilik, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, some 7 nautical miles away South East from Pagadian while Calago was found at the vicinity of Malim, Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur some 40 nautical miles away South East Pagadian.

Maritime Police Station Commander P/INSP Virgilio Vera Paragas also said that 2 out of four remaining missing were already identified as Jason Gastales Alibio 25 years old, a resident of Brgy. Tulawas, Pagadian City and Marjon Pableo Encabo a resident of Lower Landing Tomoy, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur while the two others were not still known.

The officials of Philippine Coast Guard in Zamboanga del Sur blamed the owner of the fishing boat for allowing their fishermen for ignoring their warning regarding the bad weather condition. Instead, the 9 fishing vessels were secretly going out to the high seas for fishing.

“One day before the entry of typhoon Ofel in the country’s area of responsibility they had send advisory to all their mobile patrol to the different coastal areas in the province to cancel temporarily the travel of all types of sea craft,” PSG Commander Tolentino said.

FIVE Fishing company were identified as the owner of the said Tapay-tapay  fishing boat were requested to submit their documents of their fishing vessels including the names of their crew after they failed to secure clearance to travel in spite of the temporary no travel advisory, Coast Guard commander Tolentino added.

On evening of October 24, 2012, at least 6 out of 9 Fishing Banca locally known as “TAPAY-TAPAY” were reportedly damaged and capsized by the strong winds, heavy rains and waves brought by Typhoon Ofel.

About 8:00 morning of the following day October 25, about 13 fishermen were seen floating alive by some fishermen at the sea waters in the vicinity of Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.

Fishing Boat Captain Emedio Barcenal a resident of San Pedro, Pagadian City said that they leave Tukuran at about 5:00 in the afternoon of October 23, 2012 and at more or less 9:00 o’clock in the evening while engaged in fishing between the vicinity of San Pablo and Tukuran they were struck by the strong winds and heavy rains that broke the front portion of the fishing boat.

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