LIMAY, Bataan — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said over the weekend the search for 13 fishermen from Mariveles, Bataan was still negative and that it has issued a Notice to Mariners in the country to help.
Commander Airland Lapitan of the PCG–Bataan Provincial Station here, said the search was continuous for the 12 crewmen and the skipper of fishing boat Three Sisters – 2 that strong waves sank at the vicinity of Reed Bank in Palawan.
The boat that left Barangay Sisiman in Mariveles last October 28 was about to return home after fishing when caught by rough seas at dawn of November 6 at the place known also as Recto Bank. Angelito Epetito was so far the only one saved.
Lapitan said two PCG boats are on standby in the area and vicinities continuing the search operations even as the PCG issued a Notice to Mariners all over the country to intensify the search for the missing fishermen.
The alert covers fishing boats and sea vessels, including international vessels once docked in Philippine ports, Lapitan said.
Meanwhile, families of the lost fishermen said they were not only experiencing extreme anxiety over the fate of their loved ones but suffering from lack of food, the missing ones being their bread winner.
They appealed for assistance in the form of goods from government and charitable institutions. They said they could not work while still blank on the fate of the missing fishermen.
Still missing are crews Bobby Gabales, Ronilo Epetito, Jeffrey Abayon, Frederick Falogme, Ariel Epetito, Anmar Bonocan, Joel Negrido, Dondon Narciso, Jerry Villaruel, Jerry Mantaring, Christian Gabales, Ruel Guico, and Laureano delos Santos, boat captain.
