Fishing boat sank in Cebu, one still missing

Miami
April 15, 2008
Story 1: Fishing boat sank in Cebu, one still missing

Fishing Boat Joy on board to Mandaue, Cebu capsized in the area of Liluan Cebu Sunday morning and one still reported missing.

According to Commander Antonio Cuasito of Cebu Coast Guard they only received the report about the incident, Monday, April 14, 10:00 am when the passing vessel MV Samar Star saw two of the survivors in the area of Camotes Island and saved them.

The two first survivors were identified as Edwin Cualvar, 42 and Jose Laurez, 25.

“The MV Samar Star which is a private vessel, when they saw the two, they immediately rescued them and brought here our office and report the incident,” Cuasito said.

The incident occurred Sunday, April 13 at around 10:00 am. The fishing boat came from Port Tandag of Surigao and going to Quano Wharf of Mandaue Cebu Cuty but only received the report Monday morning. Cuasito explained that the reason why they only received the report day after the incident because the victims were already at the middle of the sea, and the victims do not have radio to inform anyone on the incident.

Cuasito said there were about 6 passengers on the fishing boat, “The boat is not overloaded, however they encounter strong waves along the way.” The strong wave was brought by the bad weather as the country also experience typhoon named “Ambo.” The center of the said typhoon is in Puerto Princesa.

Two other survivors were found by Bantay Dagat of Camotes Island, Monday, April 14 at around 12:00 noon were identified as Joben Luarez, 38 and Dan Mark Danyo, 16.

As of Tuesday, April 15, 9:00 am, Cuasito received report that Jobert Luarez, 28, was also rescued by the Bantay Dagat in Camotes Island and brought to Vicente Sotto Hospital in Camotes Island also. All of the survivors were in good condition. Camotes island to Mandaue is 2 hours travel by sea.

However, a certain Loloy is still missing as of this moment and his colleagues fears that he already died. “We are still confirming of the identity of Loloy, and if it is really true that he is dead already,” Cuasito said.

He added that as of 12:00 noon of Tuesday, he already received report that some passing boats reported that they saw body floating in Liluan, Cebu but no one can confirm yet if that is Loloy.

The passengers of the fishing boat is going to Mandaue City to sell the fish they caught Saturday night, the travel from Surigao to Mandaue will last up to 12 hours.

The Cebu Coast Guard still conducting search and rescue operations.