PCG: The Philippine Coast Guard in Negros Oriental continues searching for the two fishermen who were reported missing last Sunday, March 29 by the skipper of their towing motorbanca.

Vincent Macabali, team leader of ERT of LGU of the Municipality of Siaton, Negros Oriental reported to the Coast Guard Station (CGS) Dumaguete that Manny Carlit and Laser Fajardo onboard Mbca Nelboy went missing.

Immediately, CGS Dumaguete contacted Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Bayawan to conduct search and rescue operations while Coast Guard Mobile Team Maltapay coordinated with Bantay Dagat to assist in the search.

Said station interviewed Mr Macabali who disclosed that in the afternoon of 26 March, Mbca Nelboy with four fishermen onboard named Felix Fajardo (46 years old), Jimboy Fajardo (14 years old), Manny Carlit (35 years old) and Laser Fajardo (22 years old) encountered engine trouble while on fishing venture at vicinity waters off Barangay Looc, Hiligaon, Siaton, Negros Oriental.

Immediately, Mbca Nelboy was towed using a small motorbanca named Mbca Pakura. They noticed that said towing vessel ran out of fuel and decided to leave Mbca Nelboy with Manny and Laser onboard while Felix and Jimboy boarded Mbca Pakura and continued to proceed to the shoreline.

After Mbca Pakura arrived at the shoreline of Barangay Looc, Hiligaon, Siaton in Negros Oriental, Felix and Jimboy used another motorbanca and proceeded to where they left Mbca Nelboy but it was nowhere to be found.

The Coast Guard informed all vessels and local fisher folks transiting within the area to be on look-out for possible sightings of said missing fishermen and immediately report any information to the nearest Coast Guard station or sub-station.