GUIMARAS – The bodies of two fishermen who went missing after being swept away by strong currents were recovered off the coast of Barangay Sebaste, Sibunag town on July 23.
The victims were identified as Vincent Paul Valles, 30, and Ryan Galfo, 32, both residents of Barangay Maabay, Sibunag.
According to Police Lieutenant Herbert Remigio, officer-in-charge of the Sibunag Municipal Police Station, the victims were reported missing around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 21. Valles had joined members of the Galfo family — Reynaldo Jr., 39, and Agosto Jr., 58 — for a fishing trip near Inampulugan Island.
While attempting to pull in their fishing net, Valles reportedly jumped into the water but was swept away by strong waves. Galfo immediately dove in to rescue him, but he was also carried away by the current.
Their companions quickly called for help, prompting the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local responders to launch a search and rescue operation that same night. Despite efforts, it wasn’t until Wednesday morning that the bodies were recovered near the same coastal area where they disappeared.
Valles’s body was found at 7:50 a.m., followed by Galfo’s at 10:58 a.m. Both were already in an advanced state of decomposition at the time of retrieval./PN
