Batangas map
LUCENA CITY — Authorities have launched a search-and-rescue operation for a fisherman in Calatagan town in Batangas province after he went missing while venturing into the sea early Sunday, March 19.
Jessie Fronda de los Reyes, director of the Calatagan Concerned Citizens for Environment and Protection Alliance, identified the fisherman as Welson Aytona, 50, a resident of Barangay Hukay.
De los Reyes said Aytona, who was wearing a blue plastic raincoat, went fishing at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday and had yet to return.
Aytona’s fellow fishermen found his empty boat in the seas off Sitio Dayap in Barangay Tanagan.
A local disaster management office staff said Monday morning that Aytona had yet to be found.
The Philippine Coast Guard, local rescuers, fish wardens (bantay dagat) and fellow fishermen joined the massive search operation to find the missing fisherman. INQ