ILOILO – Families of the 12 Western Visayan seafarers who disappeared in the waters of Japan on Sept. 2 pushed for the resumption of the search and rescue operation which was halted by the Japanese government due to a typhoon.
The seamen’s ship, Gulf Livestock 1, sank due to a storm.
Yesterday morning, the wives of seamen Jay Pilota of Pototan town and Leonido Turija Jr. of the municipality of Oton sought the help of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. They remained hopeful that their husbands survived Gulf Livestock 1’s sinking.
“Gusto nila update kag bulig kon puede segihon ang rescue operation,” said Defensor.
He spoke with seamen’s wives Cariza Marie Pilota and Rowilyn Turija.
“We will make the appropriate representation for them. Himuon naton ang tanan nga puede mabulig kay basi ara pa sila sa lawod. Our Public Employment Service Office will be coordinating with partner agencies,” said Defensor.
Cariza Marie lamented the limited information that her husband’s local company has been giving her.
“Kon ano lang ang makuha nila nga balita sa Japan amo lang na ang ginapasa. Tani mapadayun ang search and rescue, she said.
She was anxious, said Cariza Marie.
“Wala namon na-expect nga amo ‘ni matabo. Last namon nga istoryahanay nagapakadto sila sa Japan. Dalagku ang balud kay sa typhoon nga napasulod,” she said.
Gulf Livestock 1, loaded with nearly, 6,000 live cattle, was bound for China from New Zealand. It had 43 crew members, 39 of whom were Filipinos.
Rowilyn said she never stopped praying for her husband’s safety.
“We are so positive nga makita ikaw kag ang imo mga kaupdanan atthe soonest possible time. Kapit kag laban lang, Daddy,” she posted on Facebook.
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III said he received information from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Osaka, Japan that the search and rescue operation had been stopped.
“Siyempre Japanese government ‘yan. ‘Di natin mapakialaman. Nagpapasalamat tayo dahil ilang araw na sila nagre-rescue operation. Talagang wala sila makita,” said Bello.
Twelve of the 39 Filipino crew of Gulf Livestock 1 were from Region 6 – Bacolod City (one), Iloilo City (two), Iloilo province (nine).
The nine seafarers from Iloilo province were residents of the municipalities of Pototan, Zarraga, Tubungan, Oton, Guimbal, and Santa Barbara.
Eight of the missing Western Visayan seafarers were identified as Andren Payas of Bacolod City; Leonido Turija Jr. of Barangay Cagbang, Oton, Iloilo; Mark Glenn Suñer of Santa Barbara, Iloilo; Marlo Gallardo of Zarraga, Iloilo; Darwin Hulk Alcazar of La Paz, Iloilo City; Richard Garvilles of Guimbal, Iloilo; Jay Pilota of Pototan, Iloilo; and Ramil Pelenia of Pototan./PN
