Coast Guard suspends search for Bolinao fishermen as ‘Dindo’ hits N. Luzon

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday suspended its search for four missing Pangasinan fishermen, whose boat was hit and destroyed by a foreign cargo vessel in the West Philippine Sea on June 20, as Tropical Storm “Dindo” crosses northern Luzon.

Lt. Jomark Angue, operations officer of the PCG district in northwestern Luzon, said the storm prevented them from resuming their aerial and surface search operations.

“But we are still conducting foot patrol along the coastal areas of the Ilocos provinces,” Angue said in a telephone interview Thursday morning.

Elsewhere in northern Luzon, classes in public and private elementary schools in the Ilocos, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley regions were suspended on Thursday as Dindo dumped heavy rains. These areas were placed under storm signals Nos.  1 and 2.

In Isabela, Gov. Faustino Dy III imposed a liquor ban amid the storm.

Dy said he issued the order as he noted an increase in drowning cases during calamities, which involved victims who were drunk.

“I asked village officials to lead the implementation of the liquor ban and ensure that residents observe this rule to avoid fines or possible imprisonment,” Dy said.