Body of missing fisherman recovered off Bolinao
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—The search and rescue team of the Philippine Navy has retrieved the remains of a fisherman believed to be one of 13 fishermen who set out to sea and have yet to return due to rough waters during the onslaught of tropical storm “Kabayan.”
Capt. Albert Mogol, Navy commander in Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union, said the fisherman’s remains were recovered 75 nautical miles off Cape Bolinao past 4 p.m. on Wednesday by crewmen of the rescue vessel BRP Apolinario Mabini.
The vessel, which was carrying the body, arrived at the Poro Point at past 6 a.m. Thursday.
Mogol said the body will be turned over to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for identification. “The body was found floating off Bolinao waters. It was in an advanced state of decomposition,” he said.
Mogol said the BRP Mabini will return to sea to search for the remaining fishermen.
Meanwhile, Director Melchito Castro of the Office of Civil Defense in Region 1 said they have yet to establish whether the recovered body is one of the 13 fishermen who have yet to be located. He said the DILG, which is in charge of managing the dead and missing fishermen, will still verify the cadaver’s identity.
“We are not yet sure whether the body recovered is a fisherman until the DILG verifies it,” Castro said.
He added search and rescue for the remaining fishermen will continue. “If the team will not have any sighting of the fishermen by tomorrow afternoon, the search and rescue will be terminated,” Castro said. Cristina Arzadon/RAM
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