ILOILO – It’s roughly almost a month since 11 Ilonggo seafarers vanished at sea when a typhoon destroyed their ship in southwestern Japan. But at a Mass at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday, the missing seamen’s families reiterated they were not giving up just yet.
“We pray for their safe return. We are not giving up and we will never give up,” said Fritzie Pilota.
She was still hoping that her 31-year-old younger brother Jay Pilota of Pototan, Iloilo is alive somewhere.
Jay was among the Panamanian-flagged vessel Gulf Livestock 1’s 39 missing crew in the chilly waters off southwestern Japan after their China-bound cargo ship capsized on Sept. 2.
The other missing Ilonggo crew were Leonido Turija Jr., Mark Glenn Suñer, Alvin Oquindo, Marlo Gallardo, Hulk Darwin Alcazar, Jessie Lacibar, Romil Pelenia, Miguel Tamonan, Richard Garvilles, and Julius Sañonte. Their Filipino ship captain Dante Addug was also missing.
According to Fritzie, the families’ hope of finding the missing remained because no life jackets or belongings had been recovered from earlier searches.
She said relatives of the crew members reached out to the Philippine government as well as the owning company and manning agency of Gulf Livestock 1 to coordinate with other countries to intensify their search and rescue.
Gulf Navigation Holdings and LMA Korpil, the manning agency, then released a joint statement saying they have urged the Japanese Coast Guard and nation states bordering the South China Sea to include inspecting their islands in their search operations.
The companies also said that the suggestion to send a team of divers is under consideration, adding that an investigation into the incident will also take place with a report to be sent to the families explaining how the accident occurred.
It was just recently when families were informed that the governments of Taiwan, China and South Korea intend to conduct searches in their waters, according to Fritzie.
The Philippine government should also consider this a priority, she said.
“Ang ginapangayo lang namon kontani kay naghulag na ang Taiwan, Korea and China along with Japanese Coast Guard tani i-monitor sang gobyerno ang development sang rescue para maka-update diri sa Pilipinas kon ano na ang natabo ukon ano ang resulta,” Fritzie said.
Last week, Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III assured the kin of missing seafarers that the government is doing its best to find the answers as to what happened to their loved ones.
“I know you’re in a very difficult situation, but there’s hope,” Bello told wives, siblings and parents of the missing seafarers.
Prior to this, the Japanese Coast guard, which found three Filipino mariners, two survivors and one fatality, announced that it has stopped its special operations for the remaining crew – 36 Filipinos, two Australians and two New Zealanders – of the ill-fated MV Gulf Livestock 1.
Huang Xilian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China, said his country has already commenced rescue operations.
The Chinese government announced, however, that they have not found any sign of the missing seafarers during their rescue operations on Sept. 19 and 20.
Taiwan’s Ambassador Peiyung Hsu told Belo his request was immediately conveyed to the Taiwan Coast Guard.
“Rest assured that your good office will be kept posted on any findings or developments of the said operations,” he said.
Meanwhile, South Korean Ambassador Han Dong-Man in response to Bello’s request said he has already forwarded the endorsement to their Ministry of Foreign Affairs for proper action./PN
