This developed as Army and Navy search-and-rescue teams rescued on Saturday and Sunday nine survivors and recovered the bodies of three fatalities in the marine tragedy.
Lt. Col. Preme Monta, spokesman for the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) based in this military camp, said that the nine fishermen were rescued by the Naval Force in North Luzon and Nolcom’s Tactical Operations Group III.
He said that Nolcom has yet to identify the two bodies of the three fishermen.
The rescue of the nine, Monta said, brought to 41 the number of fishermen rescued from the Saturday tempest.
He said 193 fishermen on board 78 fishing boats set sail from Bangar town in La Union last Friday and were caught by a storm near the South China Sea.
Monta said that the survivors rescued by Nolcom elements were initially identified as Pepito Cabo of Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, and Numel Baes of Bangar, La Union. The two were plucked out of the waters shortly after the tragedy Saturday.
He said those rescued on Sunday were Benito Sobrepeña, Gerardo Alcantara, Emerson Fontanilla, Aurelio Marzo, Ernesto Ramos, Wilson Ladin and Freddie Murao, all of Caba, Luna and Bangar towns in La Union.
Monta said that assisting the military rescue teams were members of the Life Savers Association, who are all Navy reservists.
According to him, the other survivors were fetched by fellow fishermen at sea. Some 40 other survivors managed to paddle to shore on board boat wreckages.
He said that Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez dispatched "all available naval and air assets" for the continuing rescue operations including rubber boats, a patrol craft from the Lingayen Gulf, and a patrol ship that sailed from San Narciso, Zambales.
Also, Nolcom sent out a Huey helicopter backed by another one from the Air Force.
Conflicting reports
The bodies of four fishermen who died from a squall last Saturday night were found yesterday by rescuers in the waters of Currimao, Ilocos Norte and Bangar, La Union.
About 20 more fishermen remained missing yesterday from the sudden storm that hit the seas off Ilocos Norte and Bangar, La Union early Saturday evening, which generated giant waves and strong winds that sunk their fishing bancas early Saturday evening.
Only two of the fatalities were identified by the Coast Guard. Rear Admiral Arthur N. Gosingan, commander of the Coast Guard, identified the dead as Lito Garibay of Caba, La Union, and Orlando Peralta.
"Based on information gathered from the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) and Philippine Navy units in Northern Luzon, two of the bodies were retrieved by the PN (Philippine Navy), one by the PCG, and one by local fishermen," said Gosingan, citing reports from PN spokesman Cmdr., Geronimo Malabanan, PCG information chief Lt. Armand Balilo, and PCG Northern Luzon district commander Cmdr. Rommel Olarte and Naval Forces North.
At 4 pm. yesterday, the PCG issued the following update:
"There were actually a total of 193 fishermen reported missing, 32 of whom have returned home, 37 rescued, and 20 missing. And two were found and confirmed dead.
"Of the 193 fishermen, 143 come from Bangar, 17 from Bauang, 16 from Luna, 12 from Caba, three from Bacnotan. One from San Fernando City, and also one from Agoo — all in La Union."
Malabanan, however, said four dead fishermen have been accounted for.
"In fact, two of the dead fishermen were recovered by navymen" he said.
Among the conflicting data were the number of fishermen missing. The first information before midnight last Saturday said 93 fishermen and four bancas were missing. The next report said there were 115 fishermen and six bancas missing. Broadcast (radio) and television news carried these news reports.
The exact number of fishing bancas reported to have been smashed by giant waves and strong winds has yet to be established as of last night. Some reports said there were 78, some said more than 100.
Local fishermen said the bancas had one or two fishermen when they sailed off to sea. (Yul Malicse)
