Man who fell off vessel still missing

MANILA, Philippines — Six days into their search, personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Batangas station have yet to find the man who reportedly fell off a passenger vessel on Oct. 31.

PCG-Batangas station Capt. Jerome Jeciel yesterday said they continued their search for Ralph Bernard Gerona of Iloilo, who reportedly fell from the motor vessel Maligaya. 

“Our patrol boat, the BRP Boracay, is still dispatched to continue the search at sea for the missing passenger,” Jeciel said.

“At the time of the incident, the current was flowing toward the West Philippine Sea. We have coordinated with our Palawan District and its Coron Station, which have also been searching for the missing passenger,” he said.

Jeciel said they also searched the shorelines around Calatagan and Balayan towns as well as in Lubang and Colasi Point in Occidental Mindoro. 

He said fishermen in these areas were instructed to notify the nearest PCG field office as soon as they spot Gerona.

The PCG-Batangas station said Gerona was suffering from mental issues.

The vessel’s second engineer saw the passenger jump off and immediately alerted the captain, who ordered his men to maneuver the ship back to search for Gerona. 

“Gerona was with his parents and a sibling in Maligaya. The sibling fell asleep and failed to watch him. The family should have alerted the ship’s physician about Gerona’s condition, so prior arrangement could have been made to prevent incidents like this from happening,” Jeciel said.