Friday, August 29, 2008
Relatives give DNA samples in hope of identifying fishers
By Elisabeth P. Baumgart
Sun.Star Correspondent
BANTAYAN After the fishing boat in which his brother worked disappeared, Romeo Batiktik Jr., 17, was left to take care of his younger siblings.
Romeo’s brother, Rico, 22, was one of the 15 fishermen reported missing from Kinatarkan Island, St. Fe, Bantayan.
Romeo and other hopeful family members of Kinatarkan had their DNA samples taken last Wednesday, when the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team arrived in the island to exhume three bodies and take DNA samples.
However, with only eight DNA samples taken from relatives, the chances of identifying the dead are slim.
“DNA matching is only helpful if we get the samples of all the relatives,” said Dr. Rene Cam, medico-legal officer of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7. He said that their teams might return after the Department of Social Welfare and Development gathers all the family members.
Hopeful
At least 20 others from Madridejos also had their samples taken, and most families were hopeful that their relatives are still alive.
With both of their parents working in Cadiz City as fisherfolk, it was Rico’s responsibility to take care of his five younger siblings.
He regularly sent from Cadiz City, where he worked, money to help his younger siblings survive. “Our grandparents have died. We are living on our own in this island,” said Romeo in Bisaya.
Now that Rico has disappeared, Romeo must find new ways of earning a living to feed his siblings.
“I might just become a fisherman as well,” mused Romeo.
Romeo worked as a fisherman on the fb Jamboree, which belonged to the Sea Quest Company. Tragedy struck the fishing vessel as typhoon Frank hit the country last June 21.
“The vessel sank near Hulutaja Island, near Roxas,” said Viola Baculod, 42, whose brother also worked on the fb Jamboree.
Viola explained that fishing was their only means of livelihood on the island, and the best opportunities in that line of work were in Cadiz City.
Viola lost her younger brother, Rene, 24, to the tragedy.
Last words
Aside from the fb Jamboree, two other fishing vessels were also reported missing: the fb South Sea and the fb Mercury, both owned by the CYC Fishing Corp.
Remichael Sismu-an, 23, rode the fb South Sea to apply for a job as a fisherman in Cadiz City. He never reached it.
“All he wanted was to become a fisherman,” said Remichael’s father, William, 45.
With two siblings still in school and dependent on William’s meager earnings as a farmer, Remichael promised to help the family financially.
“He promised us that he would be the one to send his siblings to school,” said William. Those were the last words father and son shared before Remichael left for Cadiz City.
“Right now, I’m just praying to God that Remichael is still alive and that he will come home safe and sound,” said William.
While Remichael’s last moments with his father were just hours before tragedy hit, Romeo’s last memory of his brother dated three months ago.
“We last saw each other during the town’s fiesta in May. He told us he would return home as soon as possible,” shared Romeo.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 29, 2008 issue)
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