Kin remain hopeful 15 missing in Davao Gulf still alive
DAVAO CITY—Families and friends remained hopeful that the 15 people still missing after the recreational boat they were on sank in the Davao Gulf will be brought home alive.
On Friday afternoon, a Holy Mass was offered at the Sacred Heart Parish here “for the petition of a successful search and rescue” of the missing.
Among those especially mentioned were Hector Emberga, Herwin Tan, Ace Cortez, lawyer Anthony Banzali, and Levi Lao, who were aboard the ill-fated motor banca Amejara.
The five are part of the local Masonic community and are also known to be golfers and anglers.
“May the Great Architect of the Universe watch over them and guide all efforts toward their safe deliverance,” read a social media invitation for Friday’s Holy Mass.
Names on manifest
The five were listed in the manifest of Amejara. However, the Inquirer established that, of the 15 names on the original list, two were unable to join the recreational fishing trip that left the Sta. Ana wharf around 8 p.m. on Jan. 17.
The original list also failed to include three persons who joined the trip, meaning a total of 16 people were on board Amejara when it sailed for a fishing site in the Davao Gulf, off the coast of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental.
Apart from the five, the Inquirer identified the 11 others on the boat, gathered through public appeals.
They are Patrocinio Genita III, the boat master; Christian Genita; Homer Bolasa; Lanorias Porferio Jr.; John Julius Alcain; Steven Tan; Earlan Uyking; Ranil Florino; Reymark Napuli; Rogelio Gomez; and Christopher Bulig, who was rescued on Tuesday.
At a press briefing on Thursday, a social worker recounted Bulig’s account that the boat sank around 4 a.m. on Monday, five days ago.
Uyking was able to send a distress call to his wife between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, when the group had already drifted into the waters of Davao Occidental province.
On Friday, the Coast Guard sent an aircraft over the expanded search area.
