Tuesday, July 01, 2008 City rescuers halt retrieval operations By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
CADIZ City rescuers halted a search and retrieval operations (S&R) for the missing fisherman in Masbate and Romblon due to the Pacquiao-Diaz boxing duel.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said the Cadiz Rescue Emergency Action Team, Incorporation (Create) members has asked him to suspend the S&R operations because they wanted to watch the fight of Manny Pacquiao against Mexican David Diaz.
"I agreed but early morning Monday, they will resume their S&R operations to look for the 94 still missing Cadiz fishermen," the mayor said.
As to the latest count, Escalante said 36 Cadiz fishermen were confirmed dead. Their cadavers were already brought back here. Some 274 survived the wrath of typhoon "Frank."
Escalante also dispatched Sunday a pump boat to go Bantayan in Cebu after learning that three dead bodies were found floating along the Bantayan shores.
Meanwhile, Escalante said he has cancelled all the activities initially planned for Cadiz's 41st Charter Day celebration on July 4.
Only the mass wedding on July 3 and a thanksgiving mass and blessing of the Gov. Joseph Marañon school building at the Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School on July 4 will be pushed through.
"We don't want to have lavish celebrations of our 41st Charter Day amid the mourning of the families of our ill-fated fishermen," the mayor clarified.
Escalante added: "As much as possible, we want to be solemn at this time as we sympathize with the grieving families."
He said the city government is now ready to give P5,000 as financial assistance to the families of the fishermen (dead or survivors).
The city will also shoulder the burial expenses, Escalante said.
