Families of missing crew offer to help with search

THE families of four of the seven still missing crew of the LCT Cebu Great Ocean have asked the Philippine Coast Guard Station (PCG) in Surigao del Norte to allow them to send someone to help in the ongoing search and rescue (SAR) operations following the sea tragedy on April 19, 2021.

Commander Elaine Pangilinan, head of the PCG Surigao del Norte, in a phone interview on Tuesday, April 27, also told SunStar Cebu that the families of Mark Suarez, Jaydee Juntilla, Mark Louie Masibag and Raneso Macapaz also asked them to extend the SAR operations.

However, they have not received any instruction on the matter, she said.

She said they will only allow able-bodied male members of requesting families to participate in the SAR operations.

These families, she said, are from Davao, Iligan and Bohol.

She could not confirm if a Cebuano was among the missing crew.

According to their data, there are seven missing, seven survivors and six casualties.

The survivors are Noli Labucay, Roger Polo (the chief mate from Inabanga, Bohol), Arjie Bacarra (Talisay City), Joeji Villanueva (Talisay City), Felipe Queben (Asturias, Cebu), John Renzo Guanzon, and Junmar Galeos.

The four fatalities are Norman Galon, Michael Inoc, Jose Sherwin Laniba, and Mark Evan Cuesta.

The other three missing crew are Mario Palacio (the ship’s captain), Marvin Lusica and Vincent dela Peña.

Pangilinan also said they’ve siphoned 80 liters of diesel fuel since Friday, April 23.

The vessel ran aground near the shoreline of Barangay Cantapoy in Malimono, Surigao del Norte on April 19.

Based on the initial investigation, the captain requested to take shelter near Jabonga, Agusan del Norte because of the big waves brought about by typhoon Bising.

While at anchor, the ship’s anchor chain broke, prompting the crew to abandon ship. The ship capsized, flooding the engine room. (WBS)