Monday, January 29, 2007 32 boat passengers missing at sea By Ulysses E. Israel
AUTHORITIES are verifying reports about the mysterious disappearance of 32 persons on Thursday afternoon in the high seas of Luuk town in Sulu.
Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesman Eugene Batara said Kalingalang Caluang Councilor Hadji Jailani reported to the 2nd Marine Brigade that more or less 20 persons, all residents of the village of Pitogo in Luuk, disappeared at around 1:45 p.m. on January 25.
The missing persons were onboard two motorized pump boats, one of which was identified as Sweet Rose, while the other boat was an unmarked temper type boat. The two small boats departed Pitogo at 3 p.m. of January 25 bound for the town of Tongkil, Sulu.
However, they failed to return on the same day as expected by relatives.
"All the units have been alerted in the area of the missing persons whose whereabouts remain unknown up to now. But local efforts to locate the missing persons were futile, prompting them to request the government for assistance," Batara said.
Jolo Councilor Cocoy Tulawie said relatives of the missing persons sought the help of authorities in searching for the victims. He said there were 32 missing individuals contrary to the earlier report of only 20.
Unconfirmed reports said the missing persons were intercepted by a Philippine Navy boat.
The military denied a Philippine Navy was responsible for the disappearance of the 32 persons.
"We are involved in searching for the missing persons," Batara said.
He said they have notified the Philippine National Police and Provincial Mobile Group to locate the missing persons by conducting search and rescue operations.
