Bodies of 9 missing fishers found off Masbate; hopes dim for 10 others

NAGA CITY, Philippines—The Coast Guard in Bicol recovered the bodies of nine fishermen off the western coast of Masbate over the weekend but said Monday hopes were dim that their 10 other companions were still alive.

Captain Tranquilino Paiton, commander of the Coast Guard in Bicol, in phone interview Monday, said, however, “we will continue with the search until the missing have been recovered.”

The missing persons were among the 32 crew members of Fishing Boat Hope Christy, which capsized in Sibuyan Sea near the waters off Masbate on July 27 due to strong winds spawned by Tropical Storm “Juaning.”

Thirteen of the 32 were rescued on July 27 and had since returned to Roxas City in Capiz. Since then, helicopters and two coast guard ships have been scouring the waters between Sibuyan and Masbate for the missing.

Paiton said of the nine bodies recovered, 6 were found Sunday morning in the waters off Balud town—4 in Barangay Ubo and 2 in Barangay Dao.

He said that on Saturday, one body was found off Barangay Guincaiptan in Mandaon and one off Barangay Poblacion, Balud while on Friday, a body was found off Barangay Maolingon, also in Mandaon.