 Combined elements of the Provincial Government of La Union led by Gov. Manuel C. Ortega, La Union Provincial Police Office headed by P/Sr. Supt. Noli G. Taliño, Municipal Government of Agoo, La Union led by Mayor Sandra Y. Eriguel, Phil. National Red Cross-La Union and other concerned organizations, retrieved from Sta. Cruz and San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, all the 23 missing fishermen from Agoo, La Union who were declared missing in the evening of June 21 after being caught by typhoon “Frank” in the high seas. Led by Board Member Victoria L. Aragon, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee Chair on Disaster Preparedness and Management and Relief Services and Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council Executive Offficer; BM Joaquin C. Ostrea, SP Committee Chair on Peace and Order and Public Safety; Col. Taliño; and Dr. Eufranio C. Eriguel, PGLU Consultant for Local Government Affairs for 2nd District, the party fetched the victims in two different batches. The first group was found by the Search and Rescue Team led by the Philippine Air Force along the coastal area of Brgy. Pinipin, Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur on June 24, 2008. The survivors were rushed at the Sta. Lucia District Hospital. The incident was reported to Governor Ortega and Mayor Eriguel and immediately, a party was formed to take home the victims. After proper coordination, the fishermen were fetched and flown home by two Huey Helicopters of the Philippine Air Force. After landing at the quadrangle of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-Southern La Union Campus, the survivors were whisked at the nearby La Union Medical Center for confinement and observation. The first batch of rescued fishermen were Vicente D. Ofiana, Benito S. Sarmiento, Julieto S. Sarmiento, Noel F. Rolluda; Mark F. Celeste, Carlos D. Ofiana, Rodel S. Bacalan, Carlos Soariano, William Lagliva, Edmundo Asuelo, Jose Niñalaga. On the afternoon of June 25, 2008, the Search and Rescue Team found the 2nd group of missing fishermen along the coast of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. Rescuers whisked the fishermen at the Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital for proper medical treatment. Like the first group, they were flown back home by PAF helicopters. The 25 fishermen went fishing at dawn break of June 21 on board five motorized boats without knowledge of an approaching typhoon. While at high seas, three of the boats alternately refueled back in Agoo and delivered a partial of their catch while two other boats remained at high seas. When the third boat was about to leave and rendezvous with the rest of the partry, the fishermen on board, Andron B. Cortez and Therio Supsupen, Jr., decided to abort their trip as they were informed that typhoon “Frank” has already reached the Province under Signal No. 3. The first batch survived the ordeal by holding on to everything that floats from the parts and contents of their boat after their vessel was tattered by strong waves, winds and rain. Seeing the shoreline of Balaoan, La Union, they tried to swim for safety but the typhoon pushed them farther away from the shore going north. The second batch had a boat intact which they had to continuously keep afloat after countless times of being overturned. To survive, they had to divide among themselves their supply of rotten fish and rainwater. The second group is composed of Lumer T. Garcia, Andy M. Domondon, Pepito G. Albay, Fernan T. Hugo, Michael T. Garcia, Salvador B. Supsupin, Sixto Gualberto, Erwin Cachuela, Boy Estacio, Bobby S. Ofiana, Amado Fangonilo and Roberto Eslao. (by : Israel O. Rudio, PITO-LU)
|
