Thursday, April 17, 2008
Missing boatman not dead, says aunt during visit to CG
CONTRARY to what was reported earlier, a ranking Philippine Coast Guard official said the missing crewman of a fishing boat that sunk last Sunday is alive.
Robert Roy was found off the seas of Liloan, Cebu Tuesday afternoon, said Commander Antonio Cuasito, PCG Central Eastern Visayas District chief of staff.
Cuasito said PCG Mandaue City Detachment Chief Rodel Madrigal visited the headquarters yesterday morning and confirmed that Roy, initially identified as Loloy, survived the mishap.
Roy’s aunt allegedly called up Madrigal to rectify the report that he died when big waves battered fishing boat (fb) Joy off San Francisco, Camotes Island.
Roy, Madrigal was told, has since gone home.
Cuasito said Madrigal failed to get the complete name and address of the woman, as their mobile phone conversation was abruptly cut off.
“I instructed Madrigal to get the full name of the caller,” he said.
The fb Joy left Tandag, Surigao del Sur for Cebu loaded with boxes of fish when rough waters caused it to sink Sunday morning.
Roy’s five companions, including skipper Jobert Luarez, were rescued ahead of him.
Cuasito said it was Luarez who told PCG personnel at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City that Roy did not survive.
“But I believe that Luarez was only making a presumption because Roy had not been found for three days already since the mishap,” Cuasito said.
Bantay Dagat members rescued Luarez after he was spotted in the seas off Catarman, Liloan town at 8:30 a.m. last Tuesday.
He was taken to the VSMMC for treatment, joining Danbert (not Danmark) Daño, 14, and Joven Luarez, who were also saved off Liloan town Monday night.
The crew of a passing mv Samar Star plucked from the water their two other colleagues, Edwin Cualvar, 42; and Jose Luarez, 25, hours fb Joy sank. (GC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 17, 2008 issue)
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