DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Josephine Andig told authorities that the body of a woman found in Mangsee islet of Balabac town in Palawan was her sister 19-year-old Cristina who went missing with her American boyfriend and four other Filipinos two weeks after they left Maloh village in Siaton, Negros Oriental on a small motor banca.
Ensign Cecille Romero Jimenez, chief of the Dumaguete Coast Guard Station, said Josephine, after seeing the photos of two cadavers found in Mangsee, believed that one of these was that of her sister, citing the clothes that were similar to what Cristina wore when she left Maloh with five others for a fishing trip on February 13.
The Andig family also told Jimenez that the cadaver of the male appeared to be that of American national, Bradley Jay Fugate, who they also identified by his clothes.
Jimenez however said authorities have been cautious in making conclusions on the identities of the two decomposed corpses especially that of the male, until the official report on the forensic examination conducted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is out.
Jimenez said she called the Andig family on Wednesday after having received via electronic mail the photos of the male and female cadavers and that of the motor banca after these were found on February 28 in Mangsee.
Apparently, the Andigs had already received several emails with attached photos of the cadavers, in which the male was wearing light khaki shorts and light blue or green shirt with “Italia” patch on it, while the female had a dark shirt and black pants.
The motor banca that the victims had taken when they sailed off Maloh had the same white-and-blue paint as the one found in Mangsee — as confirmed also via the photos — by the banca owner, Bonifacio Sabroso, father of one of the missing persons, Elmer.
Some of the photos showed that the female cadaver was slumped face down on the aft portion of the banca while the male corpse was floating in water, face up, inside the motor banca in the fore portion.
A photo also showed the items recovered from the banca: a ladies’ green bag, an Apple iPad, two mobile phones, two flashlights, a black and blue backpack, a pocket Wi-fi and some coins, among others.
It was not immediately known whether the body of Cristina, if confirmed that it was hers, would be returned to her family in Maloh. Jimenez said the family had initially intimated going to Balabac but they had limited resources to get there, considering it was too far away from Negros.
Jimenez said the Coast Guard can assist the family in getting them free passages on boat rides but could not help them with their air fare if they decided to fly to Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan, instead.
From Puerto Princesa, it would take about four to five hours on bus to Brooke’s Point, where one could get a motor banca ride to Balabac Island, she said, adding that getting to Balabac is difficult as there is only at least one boat ride to that island once a month.
Jimenez however assured that the Coast Guard has been coordinating with other law enforcement agencies in finding the four others that went missing with Cristina and the Fugate while on a tuna fishing trip. They were Cristina’s brother Roseldo, Jovie Fundador, Rey Tamondoc Benetes and Elmer Sabroso. (FREEMAN)