Fisherman missing after falling off pump boat in the waters of Silay, Negros Occidental, remains unaccounted for since March 17 at dawn.
According to Coast Guard Ensign John Hoffer Olis, public information officer of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Northern Negros Occidental, search and rescue operations are ongoing with the help of Bantay Dagat, volunteers, and fellow fishermen of the missing man.
The victim, identified as Eddie Flores, 38, a resident of Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, was fishing near the boundary of Talisay and Silay City along with Marcelo Perez, Joshua Recomono, and Niño Englatera.
Olis stated that they have already spoken with the victim’s family as well as the fishermen who were with him.
The four men reportedly set sail on March 16 at 11:00 PM, but upon returning at around 4:00 AM on March 17, Flores was nowhere to be found.
Authorities suspect that Flores might have fallen into the water due to the strong waves, and since the pump boat was moving, his companions failed to see him despite searching along their route.
The group turned off the pump boat’s engine, hoping to hear Flores call for help, but even after searching into the night, they could not locate him.
After returning to Barangay Punta Taytay, they sought assistance from the PCG.
Local fishermen also deployed their own pump boats to aid in the search.
Olis revealed that the search efforts have extended to the waters of Guimaras and Iloilo, where the wind was blowing at the time.
In addition, they have disseminated information to other Coast Guard substations, particularly those conducting Coastal Security Patrols and other fishermen in the area.