Authorities search for missing Polillo vice mayor

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Authorities have been searching for the vice mayor of Polillo town, who is now assumed to be dead, who has been missing for three days after his outrigger motorboat capsized last Sunday, the Quezon Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) office said Wednesday.

Henry Buzar, Quezon DRRMC officer, said the body of the missing local official, Vice Mayor Ramil Fajardo, could have been swept away by strong waves far from the island.

Police report said Fajardo’s outrigger motorboat capsized in the seas off Pulong Ibon, Barangay (village) Bucao in Polillo Islands in the Pacific Ocean around 3 p.m. last Sunday.

Fajardo’s companion, boat operator Romeo Malaguenia, survived the incident and was rescued by fishermen last Monday. He told police investigators that the small boat was rocked by waves, throwing its two passengers into the water before it capsized.

Malaguenia said he tried to save Fajardo when he got hold of the boat. However, the vice mayor, who could not swim, was carried away by strong waves.

Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga asked for the help of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command for an aerial search operation to locate Fajardo. Members of Philippine Coast Guard have been continuously searching the area since Sunday. RAM

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