By Jennifer P. Rendon
A fisherman was reported missing after going out to sea as “Quinta” intensified into a typhoon on Oct 25, 2020.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Carles Sub-Station said they received a report of a missing fisherman around 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
But it was believed that Ernie Tayo, 39, resident of Barangay Lantangan, Carles, Iloilo went missing as early as 2 am Sunday.
Petty Officer First Class Salvador Bacea, PCG-Carles Sub-Station chief, said Tayo and two other fishermen, Renato Eden, 22, and Ralfy Aguirre, 39, left the coastal village of Lantangan around 4 pm Saturday.
Despite the government’s warning against going out to fish, the trio went dive fishing with the use of an air compressor.
But Bacea said they had advised all village officials in coastal barangays to discourage residents from going out to fish.
It appeared that the trio did not heed the warning.
Bacea said Tayo was the only one who went dive fishing.
“It was his first dive. After some time, napansin ng mga kasama nya na naputol ang hose kung saan dumadaloy ang hangin,” he said.
His companions claimed that the flashlight and hose later floated.
After the incident was reported, Bacea said they attempted to conduct search and rescue operation.
“Pero hindi namin itinuloy. I was also thinking about the safety of our personnel. Masyadong malakas ang hangin at alon,” he said.
Bacea said they might proceed with the search and rescue operations once the weather gets better.
