Five missing seamen in South Africa from Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY – Five of the 18 Filipino seamen who were reported missing after their ship sank on May 4 off the coast of South Africa are from Negros Occidental. A GMANews.TV correspondent identified the missing seamen as Jose Ashley Vasquez, Warren Cabia and Polly Navarte of Hinigaran town, and Roson Cabugwason and Louie Deriada of La Carlota City. Journalists here managed to track down the families of some of the missing crew of the bulk carrier MV Alexandros T. Friends of the other seamen provided the names of the rest of the seamen from Negros Occidental. Vasquez, 33, is the younger brother of Babes Vasquez, station manager of Manila Broadcasting Corp.'s Love Radio in Manila. In an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, Babes said her family was in direct contact with the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Council in Cape Town. She said South African authorities assured her that search and rescue operations would continue “until they've exhausted all options." Babes said she talked with Cape Town officials Friday evening. She said her brother, the ninth of 11 siblings, was supposed to come home next month after extending his nine-month contract to 11 months. Meanwhile, May Cabia, Warren's wife, called on South African authorities to continue the search and rescue operations. She said authorities assured her that efforts to look for the missing seamen will continue until Sunday. May said she spoke to her husband on May 1 when he called to greet his wife ahead of her birthday on May. She said Warren advised her not to buy a new cellular phone because he would be bringing her a new one when he comes home. Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (5th District) said he would immediately get in touch with the Philippine embassy in South Africa "to see what they can do about having the rescue operations extended." Acting Labor Secretary Manuel G. Imson earlier Friday identified the six Filipino seamen who were rescued as Allan O. Omol, 4th engineer; Aljess F. Miranda, bosun; Lee M. Alemania, deckboy; Elizer B. Paulino, deckboy; Reantonio L. Vergara, deck cadet; and Sherie R. Montano, engineboy. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration confirmed that 18 of the 24 Filipino crewmembers of the bulk carrier were still missing. The Alexandros T sank on its way from Brazil to China. A total of 33 crew members were onboard at the time of the incident. The Alexandros T was transporting 155,000 metric tons of iron ore loaded in Brazil for transport to China when the incident occurred. Andre Botes, head of rescue efforts, said at least 28 crewmembers were wearing lifejackets. Botes was earlier quoted as saying that a South African Air Force plane was searching the area off the coast of Port Elizabeth and East London. - GMANews.TV, with a report from inq7.net