By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Two fishermen from Negros Occidental were killed along with two other crew members after figuring in a mishap during a fishing venture off the coast of Zamboanga City on Thursday, August 5.
Authorities identified the two Negrense fatalities as 29-year-old Charlie Caspe and 27-year-old Billy Lamag, both residents of Sagay City.
Also killed in the accident were the boat’s captain 45-year-old Joseph Oro and third mate 37-year-old Marjon Oro, both residents of Zamboanga City.
Based on information provided by the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, around 6:00 a.m. last Thursday while onboard the fishing vessel F/V Julius 558, the boat’s captain ordered Lamag and the third mate to clean the vessel’s fish storage compartment using a submersible pump.
The two crew men were reportedly ordered to remove the accumulated water caused by melted ice mixed with remnants of decomposing fish at the compartment.
However, as the two were cleaning the compartment, both Lamag and Marjon suddenly experienced difficulty in breathing.
The two crew members shouted for help and the vessel’s captain along with Caspe immediately responded, however, both of them also fell sick and soon all four lost consciousness when they were discovered by the vessel’s chief engineer.
The chief engineer immediately contacted the operator of the vessel and directed the remaining crew on how to rescue the four individuals.
The vessel immediately went back to port in Zamboanga City to unload the four fishermen, but they were declared dead-on-arrival at the hospital.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) believes the four possibly inhaled an unknown type of gas in the compartment which caused the accident.
Caspe’s sister Lina told Watchmen Daily Journal yesterday morning that they are already making arrangements for his brother’s remains to be transported back to his home in Sagay City.
She said the company which owns the vessel has agreed to provide assistance to the families of the victims.
She also has no idea if their relatives back in Sagay City have already asked for help from the local government unit with regards to the return of his brother’s remains.
She also presented a copy of Caspe’s certificate of death showing that the cause of his demise was due to acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to toxic inhalation of unknown gas.
The PCG in Zamboanga City, meanwhile, is now investigating what type of gas caused the accident./DGB, WDJ