Coast Guard searching for 3 missing fishers in Quezon

Quezon province map. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday, July 28, launched a search operation for three missing fishermen from the island town of Panukulan in Quezon province.

The PCG-Southern Tagalog district said their Quezon station received information from Gereme Eracho, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office in Panukulan, that their three local fishers have been missing since July 22 before the onslaught of Typhoon “Egay” (international name: Doksuri).

The police report identified the missing fishermen as Elbert Sonoron (boat captain), Roberto Sonoron, and Ronnie Mirilos. The report did not specify the relationship between the two Sonorons.

The boat named “Lokoy” painted white with green, yellow, and blue stripes is reportedly owned by one Sharon Vallester.

The PCG said the missing fishers still ventured on a fishing expedition on July 22 amid warnings of the approaching typhoon.

The family of the three fishermen did not immediately file a report to the authorities about their missing loved ones, believing they only took shelter to evade the typhoon.

Panukulan and two other municipalities — Polillo and Burdeos — are located on Polillo Island off Lamon Bay facing the Pacific Ocean in the northern part of the province.

The PCG personnel have been conducting coastal and shore patrols around the island in search of the three fishers.

The authorities in northern Quezon have also advised local fisherfolks and coastal residents to be on the lookout for the missing fishermen and to immediately report to the authorities once they are found.

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