Foreign help eyed in search for missing fishermen

MANILA, Philippines  — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is planning to seek help from neighboring countries in searching for the 14 Filipinos who went missing following a sea collision in the waters off Mamburao in Occidental Mindoro on Sunday.

The rescue workers are having difficulty searching for the victims as the depth of the sea in the area is twice that which is tolerable for technical divers, according to PCG spokesman Cmdre. Armand Balilo.

“It may be sad to say… if it’s a salvage operation, we will ask experts from our neighboring countries on what to do if it is indeed there, and if we can borrow their technologically advanced equipment to confirm if the missing passengers are in the boat,” Balilo said.

He said search and rescue operations for the missing Filipinos are underway, although there has been no sign of life in the area after four days of searching.

The PCG was expected yesterday to decide whether to continue or stop the search and rescue operations.

Balilo said they are still waiting for the recommendations of the rescuers. He said a search and rescue operation usually takes seven days before being concluded, depending on sea conditions and the weather.

Rescue teams from the Philippine Navy, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and various disaster risk reduction management teams were deployed in the area where the collision between the F/B Liberty 5 and the Hong Kong-registered MV Vienna Wood occurred.

Balilo expressed belief the victims could have been trapped inside Liberty 5, noting the search and rescue operation is already on its fourth day and yet no bodies have been found.

He said they have concluded the investigation on the crewmembers of Vienna Wood, but could not yet disclose the results.

The PCG and its executive squadron is giving P20,000 cash assistance to each of the families of the missing Filipinos.

Meanwhile, fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) criticized President Duterte for being silent on the recent maritime incident.

In a statement issued yesterday, Pamalakaya said Duterte could have laid down his actions on the missing Filipino fishermen during a televised address on coronavirus disease 2019 on Tuesday night.

Pamalakaya chair Fernando Hicap said Duterte’s silence on the issue is a blatant attempt to downplay the incident and encourages Chinese and other foreign vessels to belittle the safety of Filipino fishermen.

Hicap said Duterte’s silence is similar to the Recto Bank incident in June last year, when Philippine fishing boat Gem-Ver was rammed by a Chinese vessel.

The incident nearly killed Gem-Ver’s 22 crewmembers, who were rescued many hours later by a Vietnamese ship.

Earlier, the group hit presidential spokesman Harry Roque for downplaying the recent maritime incident as a mere collision.

It said Roque’s remark is a “cover-up for the Chinese perpetrators.”

Upset

Roque’s remark upset the partner of one of the missing fishermen.

Judith Azucena, whose partner Joeffrey Bantug was on the Liberty 5, expressed apprehension that the government’s ties with China would hamper the investigation.

Relatives of the victims are hoping for a word of support from Duterte.

“Until now, we haven’t heard a word from President Duterte about the incident. Is it because these fishermen are unknown, ordinary people?” she said.

Azucena said she took comfort from the news that the PCG would continue the search and rescue efforts.Elizabeth Marcelo, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Michelle Zoleta