BACOLOD CITY - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Negros Occidental is conducting search and rescue operation on two fishermen who reportedly went missing at the sea in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Joevel Tipon, 29; and Noel Dela Cruz, 19 were last seen transitting at the waters off Pontevedra town in the province and Guiwanin, Guimaras on Tuesday afternoon. However, they failed to go home later that day.
The incident was reported to the authorities the following day, Dec. 15.
According to Capt. Ludovico Librilla Jr., head of PCG-Negros Occidental, all watercraft transitting at said areas were advised to be on proper look-out and report to the nearest PCG station if the missing fishing vessel will be sighted.
Librilla said they issued an advisory as early as of Dec. 13, prohibiting fishing venture because of the typhoon.
Librilla said that these fishermen probably insisted to go fishing since they assumed that the weather was just fine that day, despite the advisory on Typhoon Odette.
Typhoon Odette entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Tuesday night.
Librilla is hopeful that the two fishermen took shelter in nearby areas due to rough seas brought about by the typhoon.