The remains of a Filipino crewman, who died in Japan when the vessel Gulf Livestock-1 sank, will be flown back to the Philippines on September 17, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Friday.
The scheduled return of the body of Filipino crew Joel Canete Linao, of Polomolok, South Cotabato, “has been moved to next week,” according to a report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).
The airplane carrying his remains is expected to arrive in Manila at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 17. The schedule was moved from this week to next week.
The DOLE reiterated that the family of Linao will receive government assistance, as he is entitled to all benefits and assistance to be provided by the the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
A college scholarship will be granted to the children of the fallen crewman, if he has children, or to his the next of kin, DOLE Information and Publication Service Director Rolly Francia said.
The two survivors--Jaynel Rosales, 30, and Eduardo Sareno, 45, on the other hand, “will most likely be repatriated together due to their mutual request, tentatively next week.”
POLO-Osaka reported that Rosales will be discharged from the hospital today and will be brought to Hotel New Amami while awaiting repatriation.
“Both were provided by POLO with all the needed assistance. They are in constant communication with their families in the Philippines,” the DOLE said. They were also provided with pocket money.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Coast Guard reported that patrol operations yesterday, September 10, until last night “yielded no trail of the missing crew or vessel.”
The DOLE also clarified that “there is no such thing as wrong information” on the rescue operations conducted in Japan for the missing crewmen of the sunken cattle ship.
It added that POLO only quoted the report from the Japan Coast Guard, stating that the rescue teams will transition from full-blown rescue operations to regular rescue operations.