4 fishermen rescued, 10 missing still in Eastern Samar

By BRYAN M. AZURA
June 29, 2009

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar  –  Four fishermen were rescued on the shores of Guiuan town, this province, three days after having been drifted by strong winds and big waves caused by typhoon Feria.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) said that those who were rescued are Potenciano Amante, Juan Tabas, Totoy Oroyan, Olimipio Darang and Rogelio Fuentes. The PDCC said that these persons went to sea and go about in their livelihood on June 22 but were caught in the middle of big waves and strong winds due to the coming typhoon. The typhoon made a landfall in Eastern Samar on the afternoon of June 22.

Feria left the province with around 700 houses damaged with Can-avid and Taft towns severely affected. In Can-avid, of the 500 broken houses, 300, mostly made of light materials, had been totally damaged.

The storm, which brought about a wind speed of about 80 kilometers per hour for around 6 hours in the northern part of Eastern Samar, left the province with 10 fishermen missing. Those who went missing were from the municipalities of Borongan, Balangkayan and Guiuan.

Earlier, the governor ordered all agencies concerned including the Philippine National Police Provincial Office, Philippine Army and the Local Government Units (LGUs) along shorelines to make a full blast search and rescue operations for the 10 missing persons.

PNP Provincial Director SSupt. Prudencio Dela Cruz said that the rescued fishermen were found in different locations. Amante, a resident of Campoyong, Guiuan was found on board a motorboat along the seawater of Manicani Bay.

Tabas, Darang and Oroyan, all residents of Baras also of Guiuan, were rescued from a pump boat in the Pacific Ocean while Fuentes of Brgy. 6, of the same town, were rescued along the beach of Brgy. Ngolos, Guiuan.

Governor Evardone said that while he is happy most of the fishermen who were at sea during the typhoon were able to go home safely while others were rescued, he is worried about the fate of the other 10 who are still missing as of press time. Those who failed to return home who were at sea during the typhoon are Angelo Angelio, Manuel Badenas, Dionesio Badenas, Serafin Ramboy, Landoy Lacaba and Ernesto, all of Brgy. Casuguran, Guiuan.

Also in the list of missing fishermen are Manuel Gesite and Jeffrey Contado, residents of Balangkayan. Demy Lariestan of Borongan also is yet to be found.

Governor Ben P. Evardone provided logistical assistance to the family of Lariestan after his relatives volunteered to join the search and rescue operations.

Governor Evardone said that while he is happy most of the fishermen who were at sea during the typhoon were able to go home safely while others were rescued, he is worried about the fate of the other 10 who are still missing as of press time.