Three men missing as 2 boats capsize

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Three people went missing after two boats capsized in separate incidents Saturday morning.

Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard-Bacolod, identified the missing persons as 46-year-old Joseph Perinal, who was onboard  motor vessel Nonoy-jeg; and Manuel Tan, and his relative, Rosalier Tan, 40, both from Concepcion, Iloilo.

Palabrica said the boats capsized while on their way home to Iloilo from Negros Occidental. Perinal came from Victorias City while the Tans came from Cadiz City.

Palabrica said the weather bureau issued a gail warning at 5 a.m. Saturday and advised small fishing vessels not to venture out to sea due to the bad weather.

Perinal was in Victorias City to sell assorted fruits, but on his way back to Iloilo, he was able to contact his wife Imelda, informing her that his motorized banca capsized off the waters of Bagongon Island in Concepcion, at around 11 p.m. That was the victim's last contact, said Palabrica.

In another incident, the Tans were working as contractors to a bamboo house, owned by businessman Vladimir Gonzales in Lakawon Island of Cadiz City.

Gonzales, who was a vice mayoralty candidate in Bacolod City under the National Unity Party, said the Tans left the island at around 3:30 p.m. but were unable to reach home. He said three motorized bancas sailed home, despite the bad weather condition, but only two of these arrived Concepcion.

Gonzales said he was praying that his workers were safe and were just washed ashore to nearby areas safely.

Meanwhile, Palabrica said the search and rescue operations were called off Sunday due to bad weather, brought by typhoon Lando. He said it will resume as soon as the weather improves.  (FREEMAN)