Body of last missing fisherman recovered in Sorsogon

LEGAZPI CITY—Authorities have recovered the body of another fisherman, one of the five from Tabaco City in Albay who went missing during Typhoon “Nona.”

READ: Albay takes back zero casualty claim; 4 fishermen’s remains recovered

Superintendent Lianne Van de Velde, chief of Tabaco City Police, said Edgardo Bolda was found in the seawater off Barcelona town in Sorsogon on Friday.

Van de Velde said they also buried this morning the four fishermen whose remains were recovered Thursday also in Sorsogon.

On Thursday, the bodies of Edwin Bagarinao, 29; Escolastico Bolima, 69; and Efren Bien, 22, were recovered floating in sea off Bulusan town in Sorsogon while that of Eddie Boy Bredes, 26, was recovered in Barcelona town. The fishermen were all residents of San Miguel Island, Tabaco City.

There were six of them who were on board the fishing boat when it was battered by strong waves at the height of the typhoon last Dec. 14, according to the lone survivor, Robert Busito, 21.

Busito was rescued in the sea off Sitio Sunshine in Barangay (village) Makabari, Barcelona last Dec. 14.

Busito has told authorities that they left San Miguel Island last December 6 and headed for the fishing ground off the eastern part of the island-province of Catanduanes. They were in the sea for a week and in the water off Magallanes, Sorsogon last Monday when they decided to head home. However, they were struck by big waves that sank their fishing boat.

Busito said he tied an empty gallon around his body to float until he reached the coastal area of Barcelona.

Van de Velde said Bolda’s body would be brought to Tabaco City this afternoon. RAM