By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in northern Negros Occidental has launched a search and rescue operation for two young fishermen who went missing during a fishing trip in Barangay Zone 1, Cadiz City, on Thursday, despite bad weather conditions.
Commander Jansen Benjamin, head of PCG-Northern Negros Occidental, identified the missing fishermen as Joren Parochil, 22, and a 17-year-old boy, both residents of the village. They reportedly went to sea around 11 a.m., approximately 2.5 nautical miles from the shore, to retrieve a squid net.
They were expected to return by 5 p.m., but when they did not come home by evening, the boat owner contacted the PCG for assistance, Benjamin said.
Benjamin added that it remains unclear whether the fishermen decided to go on their own or were instructed by their employer to venture out despite the adverse weather.
The PCG has coordinated with nearby substations and shoreline barangays to be on the lookout for any signs of the fishermen or their boat.
