3 Batanes fishermen 'missing' at sea amid bad weather —governor

Three Batanes fishermen from Basco and Uyugan have been declared missing by the provincial government, after they failed to return to port in the middle of inclement weather on Saturday evening.

Local authorities identified the missing fishermen as Antonio Lizardo, 53; Eduardo Elica, 35; and Tinong Alviso, 45.

They were last seen near the islands of Itbayat and Siayan north of Basco, heading toward Mavudis Island.

Photo handout: Batanes LGU

“Maraming fishermen na nagpunta sa may north islands, pero malalaki na nga ang alon so maagang nagdatingan yung mga iba. Silang tatlo lang ang hindi nakabalik, at hapon na ‘yun. So nagtawag na kami sa Coast Guard,” Batanes governor Marilou Cayco said.

Gov. Cayco also said that search and rescue operations are ongoing.

“Yung marines sa Mavudis ay umiikot na sa island para tingnan, baka nandun sila,” she said, adding, “Nai-report na rin ito kay Gen. [Ramiro] Rey ng NOLCOM [North Luzon Command] para po magpadala ng eroplano at matingnan sa ibang isla kapag gumanda ang panahon.”

Batanes LGU has also called on the neighboring islands of Calayan and Babuyan for assistance with the search, Cayco added. —LBG, GMA News