Bacolod: Search on for 182 Negrense fishermen (9:30 a.m.)
Typhoon death toll now at 5
BACOLOD CITY — The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental formed Task Force “Mananagat (Fishermen)” (TFM) on Monday to focus in the search and rescue operations of the 182 Negresense fishermen reported missing.
Governor Isidro Zayco also asked Negros Occidental Police Provincial Director Rosendo Franco to request two helicopters from the Philippine Air Force to be used in the search and rescue operations in Masbate, Romblon and Capiz waters.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., named chairman of TFM, said based on their consolidated data, 155 of the missing crew members are from Cadiz City while 23 others are from Sagay City and four from Hinoba-an town.
Their names, however, were not released as of Monday after Escalante requested the media not to deliver ‘half-cooked’ news so as not to cause more worries to the grieving families.
The missing fishermen were part of the total 543 on board 24 commercial fishing boats that capsized in the different locations like in Sibuyan island, Isla Sapatos Daku and Isla Sapatos Gamay and even at the Sicogon island between Iloilo and Capiz when typhoon ‘Frank’ smashed into the Visayas islands Saturday and Sunday.
As to the survivors, the mayor said 364 fishermen were already accounted for and are in safe condition.
One fatality, however, was reported as of Monday and was identified as Rene Baring from Cadiz City.
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