Forgotten 40 of Mangsee Island

REMAINS OF 40 NAVOTAS FISHERMEN

ABANDONED IN MANGSEE HOME SOON

By Manny Piñol

Almost nine months after they drowned and died at the height of a typhoon on Dec. 23 last year, the remains of the 40 fishermen abandoned in a small island south of Palawan will finally be brought home and given decent burial.

Last Tuesday, two vessels of the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources carrying widows, children, and relatives of the ill-fated fishermen docked in Mangsee Island, a 23-hectare island-village in Balabac, Palawan.

With them were officials of the DA-BFAR, the Philippine Coast Guard and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) SOCO Unit supported by the local officials of Balabac and Palawan Province.

DA-BFAR Region IV-B Director Elizer Salilig, who led the expidition, said it was a heart-rending scene as widows, children and relatives of the 40 fishermen slumped and wept at each and every grave marked only with wood slabs with corresponding numbers.

For the relatives of the victims, it was a long and agonizing wait to be able to visit the place where their loved ones were buried wrapped only in cloth after they perished at the height of Typhoon Vinta.

The Forgotten 40 of Mangsee were among the 79 crew members of four fishing boats owned by Philippine Mariner Aqua Venture Corp. owned by the rich and politically-powerful Del Rosario family of Navotas which sought refuge in Mangsee Island at the height of Typhoon Vinta.

Huge waves, however, battered the fishing boats and the 40 crew members, including the captain of one of the boats, perished.

The fishing company attempted to cover up the incident and did not report the tragedy immediately to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard, however, was informed of the incident by the locals in the island and reports were made although there was barely any report which appeared in the media.

The remains of the 40 crew members were just wrapped in cloth and buried by the seaside marked only with wooden slabs.

The remaining 39 crew members who survived were quietly brought home to Navotas and their families, including those who perished, were given small amounts as compensation.

Aggrieved relatives of the Forgotten 40 sought the help of ABS CBN journalist Henry Omaga Diaz who brought three of the widows to my office three weeks ago.

Omaga-Diaz and I were supposed to rendesvouz with the families of the victims in Mangsee Island on Tuesday but stormy weather prevented a naval helicopter from taking us to the island.

Director Salilig said DNA tests were conducted by the SOCO team while a local funeral parlor was tasked to exhume the remains and place these in cadaver bags to be brought home to Navotas.

With the help of well-meaning members of the fishing industry, the remains will be given honors and decent burial.

Some of the fishermen will be brought home to Leyte and Southern Leyte where many of them are from.

The DA-BFAR has committed to provide each family with livelihood funds.

The legal team of the Agriculture Department will also prepare administrative and criminal charges against the owners of the fishing boats.

(All photos, except for the gallery of the victims, were taken by DA-BFAR personnel and Director Salilig.)