BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The sunken fishing vessel off northern Iloilo and Cebu has so far yielded seven dead crewmen.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Occidental identified the fatalities as Norberto Parlotzo, Rommel Engle, Victor Calvo, Julit Salvo, Herminio Ronamo, Renante Forsuelo, and Frankie Chavez, captain of the sunken F/V St. Peter the Fisherman II.
Two other crewmen remained missing; they were believed to be trapped in the wreck.
PCG and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) of Cadiz City posted videos of the search and retrieval operation off the coast of Carles, Iloilo on their social media pages.
Visibility in the wreckage was almost zero, and divers had to navigate the “claustrophobic” passageways of the sunken vessel.
The divers also dealt with jellyfishes as they work their way up and down the wreck site which lies almost 145 feet underwater.
Deputy Commander, Captain Ludovico Librilla of Coast Guard District Western Visayas said the PCG will investigate the sea mishap.
However, based on the survivors’ accounts, the vessel from Cadiz City went on a fishing venture near the Gigantes, Sicogon and Tanguigui islands when they encountered strong winds and big waves early morning on Sept. 24.
Twenty-two crewmen were rescued.
Librilla said they were only informed of the sinking Friday afternoon./PN
