Five Fishermen Rescued After Boat Capsizes Off Siquijor

Five fishermen are now recuperating at a hospital in the island-province of Siquijor after they were rescued in the waters between Siquijor and Apo Island in Negros Oriental Wednesday afternoon after their boat capsized earlier.

Lt. Junior Grade Donna Liza Ramacho, commander of the Coast Guard Station in Dumaguete City, disclosed Thursday that they received a report from the police in Siquijor that the five fishermen had gone out to sea Tuesday evening from Barangay Solangon, San Juan in Siquijor on a fishing venture.

A police report from the Siquijor Provincial Police Office, identified the five fishermen on board the wooden banca as Roland Macion, 21 years old; Ruel Tugdang, 27; Kent Nexel Abing, 14; Al Shane Balios, 15; and Roy Astillero, 14 years old, all residents of Barangay Solangon in San Juan, Siquijor.

The police immediately coordinated with the Coast Guard regarding the incident.

Ramacho said that based on initial investigation, the banca allegedly capsized and one of the five fishermen, identified as Roland Macion, managed to contact his father, Bertoldo Macion, informing him that their banca had capsized due to big waves.

The Coast Guard immediately deployed their aluminum boats on a search and rescue mission for the five fishermen but they had to terminate the activity because of rough weather, said Ramacho.

The Coast Guard search resumed Wednesday but still to no avail, Ramacho added.

The police, however, reported that a group of fishermen, identified as Ranny Macion, Orly Gongob and Ruel Paalisbo, rescued the missing persons who were found floating at the back portion of Apo Island.

They were brought to a hospital in Siquijor for treatment and are all declared safe.

Meanwhile, another fisherman remains missing until today after his unmanned fishing boat was found in the waters of Manjuyod, Negros Oriental early this week.

Coast Guard Dumaguete Station Commander Ramacho disclosed on Thursday that there is still no word on the whereabouts of Marlon Eumague, who went on a fishing venture from Canlumacad, Santander in Cebu last November 28.

A fisherman identified as Christopher Cadeliña of Barangay Bolisong, Manjuyod had discovered the unmanned motor banca floating in the waters off that barangay, said Ramacho.

The missing fisherman’s sister, Annabelle Eumague of Sibulan, Negros Oriental, was advised to present documents as proof of ownership prior to claiming the motor banca.

Ramacho said they are still awaiting word as to the whereabouts of the missing fisherman as the Coast Guard continues to search for him. (PNA)LAP/JFP