By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Indonesian authorities confirmed the wetsuit found by an Indonesian fisherman in Kolosoha, Indonesia belonged to the Bago City seaman who went missing in January after he disappeared off the coast of Sumatra.
In a radio interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod last Wednesday evening, the ship’s captain, Harvey Lazarte, said he positively identified the suit after the Indonesia Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (INAFIS) sent him several photos last week.
Lazarte explained the recovered wetsuit was specifically designed for the winter season and, if properly zippered, will not sink.
He added it is possible that the sailor, identified as Michael John Abibiason of Barangay Taloc, Bago City, may have not worn it properly when he jumped into the water and did not float, and was not visible when the vessel turned around to look for him.
Currently, there is no confirmation if the bones found inside the wetsuit belong to Abibiason as authorities are still trying to conduct a DNA test./WDJ