THE body of a missing fisherman was retrieved in Sibunag town, Guimaras province on July 23. (Guimaras PDRRMO)
ILOILO CITY – Two missing fishermen in the island-province of Guimaras were found dead on Wednesday, July 23.
The provincial government confirmed that the bodies of Vincent Paul Valles and Ryan Galfo were found hours apart.
A search team led by the Guimaras Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) found Valles and Galfo between Inampulugan and Natunga Islands in Sibunag town.
Valles and Galfo were among four fishermen onboard Fishing Boat Jen-Jen and Rowen that encountered rough waves on Monday, July 21, due to effects of the ‘’habagat’’ (southwest monsoon).
Valles and Galfo were thrown overboard and were swept away by strong currents as they attempted to retrieve a fishing buoy.
Colleagues Reynado Galfo and Agosto Galfo tried to rescue them but failed. They sought help from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sub-station in Sibunag.
Gov. Maria Lucille L. Nava ordered a full-scale search and rescue operation.
The Guimaras PDRRMO was backed by the PCG, the Sibunag Municipal Police Station, and the Sibunag Municipal DRRMO.