BALANGA CITY- The Philippine Coast Guard has dispatched its ship RP Habagat and a reconnaissance plane in search of eight fishermen whose fishing vessel sank apparently in the vicinity of the Scarborough Shoal near Vietnam Tuesday last week.
Lt. Junior Grade Geronimo Tuvilla, Bataan Coast Guard Station commander, said on Monday that EJ Brothers boat captain Diosdado Masuanggat, 40, and crew Gerardo Candoy survived while eight were reported missing in the sea mishap.
Subject of the search were Joseph Alboro, Noel Villa, Willie Pepito, Romy Roniorosa, Albert Danteros, Ricardo Fontillana, Richard Nicolas and a certain alias Mario, all of Calapacuan, Subic, Zambales like the two survivors.
He said that based on the sworn statement of Masuanggat and from the report of the owner and financier of the fishing boat, the incident happened 140 nautical miles or way beyond the area of responsibility of the CG in Bataan.
The boat skipper said that he did not know the exact location but he said that his boat powered by a Fuso 4DR5 engine reached their destination 20 hours after they left Subic in the morning of January 25.
“For unknown reason, the covering of our boat known as kubyerta was damaged or probably with our heavy load, water started filling our banca at past 6:00 in the morning of the next day,” the captain recalled.
The fishing boat was loaded with complete provisions for fishing like ice, water, diesel fuel and stones for weight and headed towards the southwest direction of the sea.
Masuanggat said there was no turbulent weather and the sea was not so rough. He said the boat did not capsize but merely sank a little with its palo still above water where he and the other nine crews held on.
“Matapos ang dalawang araw at dalawang gabing paanod-anod kami, nagdisiyon ako na sinang-ayunan naman ng iba naming kasamahan, na ako at si Candoy ay tumawag ng saklolo gamit ang maliit naming de motor na bangka,” the boat captain narrated.
He said it took them 13 hours to seek help from another fishing boat, Jessil Anne. But when they returned, their eight companions and their boat were no longer in the place where they left them.
“Sa loob ng limang araw ay sumama ako sa paghahanap ng aking mga kasamahan subalit hanggang sa ngayon hindi pa rin sila matagpuan,” he said.
The Bataan Coast Guard station brought Masuanggat to the Philippine National Red Cross office in Balanga City. Junilene Viesca, PNRC Bataan chapter administrator, said that after medical check-up, they will bring the boat captain to the Olongapo City Red Cross that will take charge of his reunion with his family.
Lt. Junior Grade Geronimo Tuvilla, Bataan Coast Guard Station commander, said on Monday that EJ Brothers boat captain Diosdado Masuanggat, 40, and crew Gerardo Candoy survived while eight were reported missing in the sea mishap.
Subject of the search were Joseph Alboro, Noel Villa, Willie Pepito, Romy Roniorosa, Albert Danteros, Ricardo Fontillana, Richard Nicolas and a certain alias Mario, all of Calapacuan, Subic, Zambales like the two survivors.
He said that based on the sworn statement of Masuanggat and from the report of the owner and financier of the fishing boat, the incident happened 140 nautical miles or way beyond the area of responsibility of the CG in Bataan.
The boat skipper said that he did not know the exact location but he said that his boat powered by a Fuso 4DR5 engine reached their destination 20 hours after they left Subic in the morning of January 25.
“For unknown reason, the covering of our boat known as kubyerta was damaged or probably with our heavy load, water started filling our banca at past 6:00 in the morning of the next day,” the captain recalled.
The fishing boat was loaded with complete provisions for fishing like ice, water, diesel fuel and stones for weight and headed towards the southwest direction of the sea.
Masuanggat said there was no turbulent weather and the sea was not so rough. He said the boat did not capsize but merely sank a little with its palo still above water where he and the other nine crews held on.
“Matapos ang dalawang araw at dalawang gabing paanod-anod kami, nagdisiyon ako na sinang-ayunan naman ng iba naming kasamahan, na ako at si Candoy ay tumawag ng saklolo gamit ang maliit naming de motor na bangka,” the boat captain narrated.
He said it took them 13 hours to seek help from another fishing boat, Jessil Anne. But when they returned, their eight companions and their boat were no longer in the place where they left them.
“Sa loob ng limang araw ay sumama ako sa paghahanap ng aking mga kasamahan subalit hanggang sa ngayon hindi pa rin sila matagpuan,” he said.
The Bataan Coast Guard station brought Masuanggat to the Philippine National Red Cross office in Balanga City. Junilene Viesca, PNRC Bataan chapter administrator, said that after medical check-up, they will bring the boat captain to the Olongapo City Red Cross that will take charge of his reunion with his family.
