Coast Guard searching for 3 Negros Occ. fishermen

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard on Tuesday said it was searching for three fishermen, who disappeared in separate areas off Negros Occidental as a storm lashed Luzon, causing bad weather and rough seas in large parts of the country.

In Hinigaran town, two fishermen were reported missing after huge waves destroyed their raft a short distance from Barangay (village) Tagda on Monday morning, the PCG in Negros Occidental said.

Another fisherman was also missing after his boat capsized off Victorias City on Saturday, the agency said.

Chief Petty Officer Policarpio Solanoy, detachment commander of PCG in Hinigaran, said they received a report that huge waves battered the raft of the two still unidentified fishermen about 100 meters from the shoreline of Tagda around 9 a.m. Monday.

Solanoy said they conducted search-and-rescue operations along the coastal villages of Tagda and Gargato and found what was apparently left of the raft. They had yet to find the two men, he added.

In Victorias City, a fisherman identified as Jack Meniado, 50, was fishing off Barangay Daan Banwa around 7 a.m. Saturday when huge waves slammed his motorized boat, causing it to capsize, said Lieutenant Commander Dominador Senador, PCG-Bacolod head.

Meanwhile, the body of Jesus Asenderia, 53, of Sitio (subvillage) Pandan, Barangay Kamansi, Kabankalan City, was recovered 7 a.m. Sunday at Hilabangan River in Barangay 6, also in Kabankalan City.

Asenderia reportedly drowned at around 11 a.m. on Friday while crossing the Buslogan River in Sitio Pandan.

Strong winds and heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm “Gener,” which intensified Monday into a typhoon, not only caused flooding in Negros Occidental but also canceled sea travel.

Senador said fast craft and roll-on-roll-off (ro-ro) vessels at the Bredco port at the Bacolod reclamation area temporarily stopped operations on Tuesday after their first trips due to rough seas.

Trips from Pulupandan town to Guimaras Island, Victorias City to Ajuy town in Iloilo and Sagay City port to Bantayan Island in Cebu were also canceled Monday, he said.