Kokoy De Santos recalls experience of dad being taken hostage on a ship

Kokoy De Santos guested on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" on Friday where he shared the harrowing experience of his father being taken hostage on a ship.

"Grabe yon Tito Boy," Kokoy began, when the King of Talk asked him about it.

According to Kokoy, his father was aboard a ship that was hijacked somewhere near Somalia. At that time, their only means of communication was through email.

"Two weeks, walang paramdam si erpat," Kokoy said, adding it was a double jab of worry for him and his siblings because they were also careful for their mother, who had a heart condition. 

"Punta kami ng utol ko computer shop, check ng email, kasi wala naman kaming computer sa bahay. Nalaman na lang ng ate ko sa Issano group sa Facebook na na-hijack daw yung barko na sinasakyan ng erpat ko," he recalled.

When asked what was going on in their minds, Kokoy could only give a resigned "wala na. Hindi pa rin kasi namin ma-contact. Syempre hoping kami pero anong gagawin? Pati kompanya niya ayaw makipag-cooperate kasi wala rin silang masagap sa barko."

It was only a few weeks later when they were told his father was alive. "Iba [yung pakiramdam]," he said. "Parang nabunutan ng sandamakmak na tinik sa dibdib. Bukod kasi kay erpat, iniisip din namin si ermats, baka mamaya anong mangyari sa kanya."

Despite what happened — and Kokoy's relative success in show business — his father continues to work in ships. "Hindi na ko nasanay. Nakaka-aning," he said. "Kaya ako nagpupursige [sa showbiz], kasi ayoko na siyang sumakay ng barko." — LA, GMA Integrated News