The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is requesting assistance from coastal residents living near Barangay Calandagan in Araceli in the search for Frabelle Fishing Corporation fisherman Edgardo Casuna, who went missing at sea three days ago while on a fishing trip.
Commander Severino Destura of the PCG’s Coast Guard District Palawan (CGD-Pal) is also urging fishing boat crews traveling through the area to be alert in searching for any signs that may lead to Casuna’s whereabouts.
Casuna got lost after jumping into the waters off Calandagan to retrieve a fishnet rope line that had gone astray, said his work colleague Booths Donasco.
The incident happened while they were aboard fishing vessel Yellow Bell on Saturday night.
“Paghagis kasi ng skip man namin noong first line, umabot doon sa prowa namin, pero yong second line hindi umabot kaya tinalon niya kasi delikado yon dahil kapag hindi nakuha, masisira ang ilalim ng lambat,” Donasco said.
“Pagtalon niya, nahawakan naman niya ang lubid pero dahil sa lakas ng alon dahil sa masama din ang panahon, nabitawan niya ang lubid at nadala siya ng alon. Noong inilawan na namin ng flashlight, hindi na namin siya makita,” he added.
Destura said that on August 10, they began a search and rescue effort but were unable to continue owing to poor weather.
On August 11, they returned to the location, but bad sea conditions due to “habagat” stopped them from continuing their search.
“Pinostpone po muna hanggang bumuti ulit ang lagay ng dagat. Pero may announcement na kami sa mga nearby coastal communities, at saka sa mga watercrafts na dumadaan doon sa lugar na kapag nakita nila ang biktima ay mag-render sila ng assistance,” Destura said.
“Kung kayanin man po niya na magpalutang lutang, kasi ngayon habagat, southeastern ang direction ng hangin at ng alon, so kung kakayanin niya possible na mapadpad siya sa mga isla. Pero ang mahirap kasi doon ang lagay ng dagat ngayon. Masydong mahirap sa tao na i-survive ang ganung alon,” he added.
Destura said the area in Calandagan where Casuna went lost has hazardous seas. In fact, it is where the landing craft Lady Athena sunk in November 2020.
“Kung maaalala ninyo ang LCT Lady Athena na bumaliktad last year, diyan din po sa area na yan. Talagang malakas ang alon ng dagat sa area na yan,” he said.
