Surigao fishing vessel missing since January 22

BUTUAN CITY — A fishing boat from the coastal town of Placer in Surigao del Norte has not yet returned to port of origin since it left to fish last Jan. 22, a report said Sunday. The Caraga Regional Information Office identified the missing fishing as F/B Bunso 1, which is owned by certain Rovencion O. Mondragon. It said the fishing vessel left Pacer port and was headed north to the Pacific Ocean. An initial police report said the owner of fishing boat even went to the island town of Socorro, also in Surigao del Norte, hoping the vessel sought refuge there. Rovencion told the Socorro police his fishing vessel was supposed to return January 28. He claimed he radioed the fishing boat’s captain but failed to get a reply. He did not indicate how many were on board the missing vessel. Socorro Municipal Police office, together with the Philippine Coast Guard, is conducting search and rescue operations. — Ben Serrano/LBG, GMANews.TV