BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Western Visayas wrapped up the search and retrieval operation on the F/V St. Peter the Fisherman II which sank off the coast of Carles, Iloilo last week.
Commander Jansen Benjamin, Coast Guard District Western Visayas (CGDWV) chief of staff, said they located the remains of Julian Dungog trapped inside the vessel, but they were unable to retrieve them.
Benjamin said it was “too dangerous” to access the inner compartment.
The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, according to Benjamin.
He said the remains will be removed once the vessel’s owner, Tristar Fishing Corp., conducts a salvage operation.
PCG, meanwhile, was unable to locate the remains of the last missing crewman, Third Engineer Manuel Auditor.
Investigation and monitoring were ongoing.
Earlier, the bodies of Norberto Parlotzo, Rommel Engle, Victor Calvo, Julit Salvo, Herminio Ronamo, Renante Forsuelo, and the ship’s captain, Frankie Chavez were retrieved.
The F/V St. Peter the Fisherman II capsized early morning on Sept. 24. It was battered by strong waves and winds in the waters between Carles, Iloilo and Tanguigui Island, Cebu.
Twenty-two crewmen survived./PN
