18 fishermen rescued, 2 missing as boat sinks

CEBU - Eighteen fishermen were rescued while two are still missing after a fishing boat capsized off the waters of Homonhon Island in Leyte Thursday dawn.

The rescued fishermen were identified as Teodoro Mondido, 38; Eleuterio Ortula, 36; Gabriel Tumangaw, 18; Francisco Macabendo, 32; Roberto Tanso, 20; Ian Villamor, 19; and Orlando Lejaño, 18.

Jason Condeza, 18; Jonathan de Guzman, 18; Elmer Roa, 26; Joseph Domingo, 22; Eron Manliclic, 19; Jerry Corded, 28; Allan Davocol, 20; Gil Colibao, 28; “Otoy” Colibao, 22, Martin Aguja, 34; and Pio Rocha, 30 were also among the survivors.

Missing are Arnel Mondido, 21; and Eduardo Ritawa, 37, both from Caibiran, Biliran Island.

Chief of Staff Coast Guard District Central and Eastern Visayas Commander Antonio Cuasito said that based on the report submitted to them by Coast Guard Tacloban, the 18 were rescued by a passing fishing boat named Marissa Villa at around 7 a.m. Thursday.

CG Tacloban received the report about the capsized boat Thursday afternoon at around 4:30 from Florentino Arpon, Jr. who is the owner of the boat.

The initial investigation of CG Tacloban revealed that on or about 11 p.m. of November 19, fishing boat MCPI-2 ventured fishing on the vicinity of southeast of Homonhon Island.

At around 3 a.m. of November 20, gusty wind hit them and suddenly, they were struck by a tornado that caused the capsizing of the boat. The 18 were rescued by FB Marissa Villa and have now gone back to their respective homes in good conditions.

Two are still missing and still searched by the personnel of CG Tacloban and other volunteers. The boat is currently at 15 nautical miles south of Homonhon Island.

Since morning until 6 p.m. yesterday, the search and rescue operation for the two missing fishermen went yet the result remained negative.

The operation will resume today with the divers from the Philippine Navy based in Tacloban who were requested by the relatives of the missing fishermen to search on the capsized boat thinking that the two might just be inside. — Jessica Ann Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)