Coast Guard probes sea collision; search for 6 fishers continues

CEBU, Philippines - Search and rescue operations are now ongoing to find the six fishermen who were on board a fishing boat that collided with a cargo vessel in the seas of Madridejos town early morning Sunday.

This as the Coast Guard opens an inquiry to determine who should be accountable for the tragedy, said Anelito Gabisan, chief of staff and operations officer of the Coast Guard in Cebu.

Nineteen fishermen were on board the fishing boat Linda-J Steel II two miles off Tanguigu Islet in Bantayan Island when they collided with cargo vessel M/V Chrysler owned by Matsya Shipping Lines.

The collision damaged the starboard of the fishing boat, which caused it to sink. In turn, the cargo vessel was left with a hole about five inches in diameter.

Thirteen of the fishermen were rescued by the cargo vessel crew but six fishermen- Gerry Kaquilala, Mario Olivario, William Baduiable, Timoteo Morados, Remegio Ofinga and Am Darawis- went and remain missing.

At that time of the collision, M/V Chrysler was on its way to Mariveles, Bataan, leaving Cebu 3:45pm on February 7.

The collision was estimated to happen 5:20 a.m. on February 8 but the distress call reached the Coast Guard reportedly only at 8am, about three hours after the incident.

Edwin Bordaje, chief information officer Matsya Shipping Lines, made the call after the crew of the cargo vessel failed to locate the six fishermen.

The shipping lines also asked the Bantay Dagat Commission to assist in the search.

The owner of the fishing boat, former San Remigio Vice Mayor Pabling Olivar, the current barangay captain of Hagnaya, said he will give financial assistance to the families of the missing fishermen and would personally help in the search and rescue efforts. – AJ de la Torre and Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/JMO    (THE FREEMAN)