Fishermen missing off Ilocos Sur waters

By Myds Supnad

SANTIAGO, Ilocos Sur-Three fishermen who went on fishing along the West Philippine Sea morning of Jan. 19 are still missing.

Police said the fishermen of Barangay San Roque, this town identified as Rodel la Peña, Antonio Tadena and Roy Rapada, all residents of the coastal Barangay of San Roque, have yet returned to their homes as of this writing, raising fears that they might have been either drowned or their banca submerged.

Relatives of the victims told police said the three fishermen left their homes at 5 a.m. that day and failed to return home.

Usually, the fishermen going to catch fish along the sprawling deep sea return in late afternoon or early evening since most of the fishing boats being used here are small and single engine motor boats.

As this developed, local fishermen and rescuers are now conducting massive search operations to find the victims’ whereabouts along the high seas west of the province.

Meanwhile, police reported that a 20 –year old criminology student died instantly after his motorcycle he was riding met an accident along the road in Barangay Baggoc, Caoayan.

Reports sent by Senior Insp. EdmarQuiton, chief of police of Caoayan town, identified the victim as Kevin Regala, a criminology student of the University of Northern Philippines and resident from Barangay Tamag, Vigan City.

Quiton said that the accident occured at about 10:30 p.m when the victim was driving alone his motorcycle.