Eight missing fishermen safe in Fuga; woman dies

By Freddie G. Lazaro

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — Rescuers from the Philippine Coast Guard reported Thursday that eight missing Cagayan fishermen were found safe on Fuga Island in Aparri town.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Ernesto Renon of the PCG station based in Aparri, said the fishermen were left stranded there because of big waves.

He said the fishermen are now waiting for coastal waters to be calm in the area before returning to their village in this province.

The fishermen have been missing off the seas of Sta. Ana, Cagayan afternoon of Nov. 23 even as a woman drowned when the motorized banca she was riding on that day capsized near waters of Alcala town, also in the province.

Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente, PCG spokesperson, said earlier in the first incident, two of those missing were from Sta. Ana while eight were from Barangay Macanaya, Aparri.

The two missing fishermen from Sta. Ana were identified as Nelson Arquero, 34, and BenimarArquero, 28.

They went on fishing 10 nautical miles off Sta. Ana that afternoon and failed to come home.

The missing fisherfolks from Barangay Macanaya were identified as Mark Cacayuran, 30; Ariel Cacayuran, 25; Bernardo Tricenio, 26; Edgar Siraon, 32; Fidel Carrera, 42; Jun Carrera, 40; Naming Abad, 45; and Julian Nagtaran, 45.

They went missing while fishing in the waters off Fuga Island and Calayan.

Ricafrente said the PCG earlier advised barangay captains of adjacent barangays and other fishermen to be also on the lookout for the missing fishermen.

In the second incident, a 49-year-old female resident of Amulung, Cagayan, among 20 people who had come from a burial, drowned when the motorized boat carrying them capsized amid heavy rainfall off Alcala town Nov. 20, authorities said.

Recto Catuiran, chairman of Barangay Tana in Amulung town, identified the fatality as Dominica Bautista, 49, whose body was fished out by residents of Barangay Maraburab in neighboring Alcala.

The sea mishap occurred as Coast Guard authorities have warned local folk against venturing into the sea due to heavy torrential rains and big waves.

Meanwhile, 20 passengers headed for Camiguin Island in the Babuyan Strait and Maconacon, Isabela have been stranded last week in the ports of Aparri and Sta. Ana towns.