The number of Negros Occidental fishermen found dead rose to seven yesterday, Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante said, but the figure is believed to be far higher as survivors of Typhoon Frank told of their harrowing struggle to stay alive as they watched their companions disappear into the sea.

Andres Cabus, 42, captain of the MV Laura Roldan of Old Poblacion, Escalante, and his crew members Pedro de la Cruz, 53, and Esmeraldo Mata, 40, of Cadiz City yesterday spoke of  how they hung on to makeshift life rafts for three days and two nights.

And of how  they watched their companions exhausted and weak from lack of food and water let go to be swallowed by the sea.

The MV Laura Roldan had a crew of 14.

Cabus said as they struggled to stay afloat some of their exhausted companions asked them to relay messages to loved ones before letting go.

“We watched out companions who did not have the strength to go on fall into the waters one by one,” Mata said.

Mata said their vessel was near Alutayan Island in front of Roxas City when Typhoon Frank started battering it from Friday evening to early Saturday morning. They abandoned ship when water began to fill their engine room.

They were rescued in the waters of Masbate and yesterday afternoon were airlifted back to Negros Occidental by a Philippine Airforce helicopter that had been tapped by Negros Occidental’s Task Force Mananagat.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, Negros Occidental police director, said the helicopter is being used to rescue the living while the dead will be brought home by boats.

Ten bodies have been found in Carles, 16 in Estancia and 29 in Masbate but it is not know yet if the fatalities are among the missing Negros Occidental fishermen, the police reported.

Escalante placed the death toll of Negros Occidental fishermen at seven and the Cadiz Coast Guard at six.

While Task Force Mananagat placed the number of fishermen from 24 vessels missing at 178 Monday an exact number of those rescued was not available as of press time with figures from various agencies varying yesterday.

PO1 Alexius Soledad, Cadiz Coast Guard chief, said they recorded 15 vessels with 225 crewmembers among those hit by Typhoon Frank.

Of the crew 93 were rescued, six were dead and 125 missing, he said.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office identified three casualties from Cadiz City as Marcelo Desuyo, Joseph Sesduyro and Sandy Guilos.

It also reported Rogelio Arcayos, Geronimo Guardiano Jr., Antonio Ugasan and Salvador Cena of MV Nichole Louis 2 as rescued in Cauayan, Masbate, and Roberto Caratao and Alan Mansanares of Cadiz City as injured and currently at the Esperanza Rural Health Center.

The PSWDO also reported that Rochele Singco and Pio Sadan, employees of Norkis, were among the rescued passengers of the MV Princess of the Stars, but did not say if they were from Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, Cadiz Mayor Samuel Mirhan said six fishermen from  Cadiz City  were rescued in Masbate waters  late Monday and 12 others  found on Sicogon Island were brought home yesterday morning.

Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco said the provincial government sent food assistance to those rescued and will shoulder the cost of the fuel for the search and rescue operations.

Joy de la Cruz, Philippine National Red Cross chief in Negros Occidental, said she and her team had gone to Cadiz City to provide stress debriefing for the families of the missing fishermen.

She said they are also are helping record reports of missing persons and facilitating contact with persons in areas where they might be.

The PNRC yesterday afternoon recorded 127 missing, 239 survivors and four dead.*CPG

back to top