Gale warning delays search for 3 boys

CEBU, Philippines - The search for three Barangay Baring, Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City children who went missing after going out to fish has hit a snag after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued gale warnings.

Lapu-Lapu City Risk Reduction and Management Council Deputy officer Andy Berame said the Olango Police Station has sent an alarm on the missing boys identified as Jose Maria Eduardo Daño and Aaron Hida , both 15 years old, and Shaun Michael Daño, nine, who all failed to return home after leaving home Sunday morning reportedly to catch fish.

But PAGASA issued a gale warning because "strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas," resulting to suspension of all sea transportation.

"Dili man ta kakontrol sa dagan sa panahon. Ang gihimo sa police sa pagkakaron, ilahang gipanawagan tanan police stations dili lang sa Lapu-Lapu City kundi sa mga nearby municipalities, in case duna sila’y makit-an nga modunggo o mapadpad sa ilahang dapit mo-feedback sila balik sa Olango police station," Berame said.

Senior Police Officer 1 James Ariel Fuentes of Olango Police Station told The FREEMAN that personnel from their station went to Camotes Island around 7 a.m. yesterday to possible look for the three children.

"Padung sila karon sa Camotes Island, ilahang subayon kada baybay gikan sa diri.  Nanukad sila sa Barangay Baring, basin makit-an nila didto," Fuentes said.

He said that if the police, with the help of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy, found three Korean technical divers in the waters off Camotes Island last July after they went missing, there might be a possibility of finding the children there.

He, however, said that at around 1 p.m. last Monday, policemen detailed in Caubian Island stopped their search because of the strong sea current.

"Ni-resume sila karon," Fuentes said Tuesday.

Berame confirmed that the police are searching in Camotes but added there is a possibility that strong waves might have pushed the children to the waters off Talisay City or off the islets of Bohol Province.

"Dako ang posibilidad ang prevailing wind nato ron kay amihan, unlike during sa time nga habagat. Kung amihan ta or north-eastern winds ta, ang hapak sa hangin padung sa south. So, possible  sa Talisay or sa gagmayng isla sa Bohol mapadpad ang mga bata," he said.

As of presstime, however, the minors remain unaccounted for. –/RHM (FREEMAN)