Japanese Coast Guard resumes search for missing Filipino seafarers

The Japanese Coast Guard has resumed search for the 36 Filipino seafarers who went missing last week after their ship capsized in stormy weather, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.

“Kahapon, after nung bagyo, nag-resume sila ng operations, key operations,” Bello said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Bello, however, said he received information that the Japanese Coast Guard has put a halt to its “special operations” and have instead resumed “normal” operations.

“[J]ust this afternoon, nakatanggap ako ng report from our labor [office] in Osaka, Japan na hininto na raw ‘yung [special] rescue operations. Hindi naman ini-stop. Ibig sabihin, wala nang special operations. Hindi kagaya kasi dati,” he said.

Three vessels, four airplanes, and two divers were taking part in the search for the missing crewmen of Gulf Livestock 1, according to the coast guard.

“Ngayon, hininto na ‘yun. ‘Yung normal na lang daw na operation ang ginagawa nila,” he added.

Last week, the cattle ship sent a distress call from the west of Amami Oshima Island in southwestern Japan on Wednesday due to Typhoon Maysak.

Filipino Sareno Edvarodo, a 45-year-old chief officer, was the first to be rescued last Wednesday. Another Filipino crewman, identified as Jay-Nel Rosales was rescued last Saturday.

Meanwhile, a crewman who was rescued last Friday died after being pulled unconscious from the water.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News