KALIBO, Aklan – Three men from here went on a fishing trip on May 8 far north of Olotayan Island.
Around 1 a.m. of May 9 a larger vessel allegedly hit their 35-foot fishing boat “Jhon Roel” in the waters between Capiz and Masbate provinces.
Two of the three fishermen onboard – Leo Arilas, resident of Barangay Bakhaw Sur, and Gerald Retos, resident of Barangay Bakhaw Norte – were rescued by other fishermen.
Their third companion Ricky “Rex” Peralta, however, couldn’t be found.
On May 10, Peralta’s body was recovered.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has launched an investigation.
The unidentified large vessel hit the back portion of three men’s anchored fishing boat, and left them in the open sea. The fishermen drifted until a fishing boat rescued them.
“Nangisda sila ng liwit (sword fish) malapit sa Olotayan Island, Masbate at Sibuyan. Pinuntahan natin ang lugar sakay ng dalawang bangka noong Linggo at na-recover natin ang kanilang mga gamit sa kabilang bangka,” said Barangay Bakhaw Sur kagawad Nelson Dela Cruz.
A search and rescue operation was launched by the coastguard and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office-Kalibo. Local fishing boats were also mobilized.
“Halos buong araw kaming naghanap kay Rex. Mga bandang alas otso ng umaga, doon sa Tangalan may nakitang patay ang mga mangingisda na taga-Kalibo. Nilagyan nila ng bandera at float para ma-identify ang luga., Nakita siya mga 30 kilometro ang layo sa lugar na pinagyarihan,” Dela Cruz added.
Peralta, 54, was a resident of Barangay Bakhaw Norte./PN
