Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said he received information from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Osaka that the search and rescue operations for the crew members onboard a missing Panama-registered cargo ship already stopped.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
(ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Just this afternoon nakatanggap ako ng report from our labor attache in Osaka, Japan na hininto na daw yung rescue operations (Just this afternoon, I received a report from our Labor Attaché in Osaka that Japan has already stopped the rescue operations)," he said in a radio interview.
"Di kasi kagaya dati na meron silang gamit na dalawang aircraft, tatlong patrol boat at saka mga divers. Ngayon hininto na iyon. (Unlike before they have two aircraft, three patrol boats and divers. Now, they stopped that)," added Bello.
"Siyempre Japanese government iyan at di natin mapakailanman. In fact, nagpapasalamat na nga tayo dahil ilan araw na sila nagrerescue operation. Talagang wala sila makita. (Of course, it is the Japanese government so we cannot interfere with them. In fact, we are already thankful because they conducted rescue operations for several days. They just couldn't find anyone)," he said.
Bello said his problem now is how to inform the wives, children, and siblings of the 36 missing Filipino seafarers.
"Kasi naghahanap sila kung ano ang update...hindi maganda ang balita ko. Wala naman tayo magagawa kasi gobyerno ng Japan iyan at hindi naman natin mapilit (They are looking for updates...my news is not good. We cannot do anything because that is Japan government we cannot force them)," he said.
On Saturday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the government is extending all necessary assistance to the survivors and the families of the missing Filipino crew members of the ill-fated cargo ship that sank off the coast of Japan last week.
The Gulf Livestock 1 was carrying cattle and 43 crew members, including 39 Filipino nationals.
Three Filipino crewmen were later found, one dead and two survivors.