Coast Guard Station (CGS) Surigao del Norte headed by the Station Commander CDR ELAINE R PANGILINAN PCG responded to a reported incident involving a fisherman who accidentally fell from his pumpboat and went on missing since 29 May 2021.
At around 7:00 o’clock in the morning of 30 May 2021, Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte received an information from a certain Estrella R Paqueo regarding accidental man-overboard incident involving a fisherman transpired at vicinity waters off Bacuag, Surigao del Norte in which the victim failed to refloat and was allegedly missing.
Upon receipt of the information, CDR PANGILINAN PCG immediately directed Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Placer to verify the veracity of the report and take appropriate actions if confirmed.
Meanwhile, COMMODORE LUISITIO S SIBAYAN PCG the Commander of Coast Guard District Northeastern Mindanao (CGDNEM) also directed Coast Guard Special Operations Unit – Northeastern Mindanao to proceed with rubber boat at the reported location and subsequently conduct a thorough Search and Rescue (SAR) Operation for the missing fisherman.
1004th PCGA Squadron, Bantay-Dagat of Bacuag, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bacuag, fisherfolks and other residents of Municipality of Bacuag likewise conducted Search and Rescue (SAR) Operation in the area using their respective floating assets.
Joint Search and Rescue (SAR) Operation efforts by PCG and other agencies yielded to a negative results which officially terminated yesterday in the afternoon upon the advice and consent of the immediate family of the victim.
Information obtained by CGSS Placer revealed that the victim was identified as Porferio G. Najial, 45 years of age, a fisherman and a resident of Municipality Bacuag, Surigao del Norte. At around 3:00 o’clock in the morning of 29 May 2021, the victim was on a fishing venture at vicinity waters off Bacuag, Surigao del Norte together with a certain John John Lacano, 16 years of age and also a resident of said Municipality. As detailed by Mr. Lacano, at around 7:00 o’clock in the morning of same date, the victim was thirsty however there was no drinking water onboard thus the victim tried to drink the seawater in order to address and alleviate his necessity which triggered the victim to accidentally fell from the pumpboat.
Mr. Lacano likewise testified that he went on panicked during the incident and made no actions for the reason that he is a non-swimmer thus he immediately informed the family regarding the incident . Fortunately, a passing motorized pumpboat rendered assistance and immediately brought Mr. Lacano to the shoreline for assistance.
6 (six) pumpboats initially conducted Search and Rescue (SAR) Operation to the area however the victim was nowhere to be found.
Accordingly, the victim has an comorbidity particularly Hypertension wherein he secretly hide to his immediate family members which possibly caused him to have an altered consciousness and subsequently fall towards the seawater.
On the other hand, Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte already issued a Notice to all Mariners (NOTAM) addressed to all vessels/watercrafts transiting within the vicinity and other adjacent areas as well as the coastal barangays to be on the look-out for the possible sightings of missing fisherman and take appropriate actions if sighted.
The missing fisherman is wearing a color blue long sleeves as an upper garment and a color green shorts as his lower garment.
Kindly report immediately to Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte with mobile numbers 0951-807-0127 and 0916-185-3901 for any sightings of said missing fisherman.
