2 of 9 missing in Visayas sea mishap found dead

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Two of nine fishermen who were reported missing after their vessel capsized in the waters between Iloilo and Cebu on Friday have been found dead, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

The bodies of Rommel Engle of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, and Norberto Parlotzo of Bantayan, Cebu were recovered on Saturday by a team of divers hired by the family of one of the missing fishermen.

A team of divers from the PCG’s special operations unit were searching for the wreckage of the fishing boat St. Peter the Fisherman II, according to Capt. Ludovico Librilla, chief of the PCG-Negros Occidental station.

Search and rescue operations for boat captain Capt. Frankie Chavez and fishermen Manuel Auditor, Victor Calvo, Julian Dungog, Renante Forsuelo, Herminio Ronamo and Julit Salvo were ongoing, the PCG said.

Of the 31 people onboard St. Peter the Fisherman II, 22 were rescued by other vessels that were in the area when the incident occurred.

Investigation showed the vessel was battered by strong winds and waves as it was sailing between the islands of Gigantes and Tanguingui located in the waters off Iloilo and Cebu, respectively.

Meanwhile, in Occidental Mindoro, six persons were rescued when a motorboat loaded with livestock figured in another sea accident on the same day, according to Commodore Armand Balilo, spokesman for the PCG.

The M/B Kenn Stephanie was sailing in the waters off Pandan Island in Sablayan town when it was battered by strong winds and waves.

The vessel came from Coron in Palawan and was headed to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro when it encountered bad weather.

Seven water buffalos and four cows drowned in the incident, the PCG said.

The boat was towed toward the Sablayan Port. – Evelyn Macairan