ILOILO CITY – According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), at least 12 seafarers from the Western Visayas region were among the missing Filipinos, who were crew members of a cargo livestock vessel that capsized off the coast of Japan.
OWWA-6 Regional Director Rizza Joy Moldes confirmed that two more seafarers were added to the initial list of 10 missing seafarers of Gulf Livestock 1.
“Upon verification, we now have 12 missing seafarers from Western Visayas,” Moldes told Manila Bulletin Monday, September 7.
Moldes explained that two other seafarers were not initially on the list of OWWA-6 since they used their Metro Manila addresses on their papers, and not their local addresses.
Of the 12 missing seafarers from, nine were from Iloilo province.
“There are also two from Iloilo City and one from Bacolod City,” Moldes added.
OWWA-6 is closely coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to update the families concerned.
“But we do not know yet of the latest details after the search and rescue operations have been temporarily suspended due to incoming typhoon. I hope it will resume as soon as possible,” Moldes said.
OWWA-6 would not release the names of those missing, but their families and friends have identified them in various posts asking for prayers.