Maritime police conducting retrieval operations. Photo courtesy Bataan Maritime Police Station
MARIVELES, Bataan — The Bataan Maritime Police Station on Friday reported the retrieval of the body of the missing crew of a tugboat that sank in the sea off Mariveles at the height of storm Jolina Wednesday night.
Executive Master Sergeant Marlon M. Barnachea said the body of Peter Bilocura, 41, of Sambuan, Cebu, was found at 6:30 a.m. Friday at the shoreline of Sitio Pitas, Barangay Ipag, Mariveles where the tugboat and a barge were carried away by strong waves.
He said that on Wednesday night, eight of the nine crew members of the tugboat and eight from the barge were rescued by combined elements of the Bataan Maritime Police, Philippine Coast Guard and personnel from Barangay Ipag and the Mariveles local government unit.
Barnachea said that during the onslaught of the typhoon Wednesday night, they received a call from Mayor Jocelyn Castañeda that a tugboat capsized in Ipag.
He said that Major Leoncio P. Alcantara, Jr., Bataan maritime police station chief, ordered them to coordinate with officials of Ipag where they were informed by barangay chairman Rod Luyo of what happened.
The police officer said the tugboat and the barge docked in the area to wait for the bad weather to calm down.
“Nang araw na yon ay naghahanap lang sila ng safe place sa Barangay Ipag at nagkataon na kahit nakahanap sila ng lugar ay tinangay pa rin ang mga ito ng malakas na alon at bumaliktad ang tugboat kasama ang isang tripulante nila at sumadsad ang barge,” Barnachea said.
The tugboat towing the barge was maneuvering to find a safe place to take shelter due to the incoming typhoon but due to the strong waves, the rope was accidentally cut that made the barge to drift at the shoreline while the tugboat sank after continuously being hit by strong waves and wind, report showed.
Barnachea said on the night of Wednesday, they already conducted search and rescue operations but were unable to locate the missing crew and called the night off due to strong current.
He said they scoured the surrounding areas and continued the search Thursday but it was only on Friday that the body of the victim floated.
