BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – At least one fisherman was rescued, while another was still missing after their small fishing boat capsized off the coast of Barangay 1 in the town of Ilog in Negros Occidental late Tuesday night.
Authorities identified the rescued fisherman as 35-year-old Ivar Avansenia, while his sibling, 32-year-old Isagani Avansenia remains missing.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Negros Occidental chief, Lieutenant Commander Jansen Benjamin said at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, the two brothers were fishing when their vessel, FBCa Gadying 1, snagged a fishing line and caused their vessel to capsize.
The elder Avansenia managed to cling on the capsized boat, while his younger brother was nowhere to be found. The elder Avansenia was later rescued by fishing vessel FBCa Marilyn Rose, which was skippered by 36-year-old Jenni Villegas.
Upon arrival at the town of Ilog, Villegas and his men immediately informed the local barangay, which in turn forwarded the information to the PCG’s sub-station in neighboring Cauayan.
Benjamin said search and rescue operations are still being conducted for the younger Avansenia, while the PCG also informed all vessels passing by the waters of the municipality to look out for the missing fisherman./PN