Missing Tolosa fisherman found, able to attend his wedding date

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
March 31, 2012

TOLOSA, Leyte  –  The fisherman from Tolosa, Leyte who was reported missing since he went out fishing on March 27 at the height of heavy rains, was found on March 29, right on time to attend his wedding on March 30.

“Yes, he was found. I am sure of that. I just officiated his wedding this morning,” Tolosa Mayor Erwin Ocaña told the Philippine Information Agency.

Mayor Ocaña described as very emotional, the wedding of the lost fisherman Castro C. Advincula, 48 years old and his girlfriend from Iloilo.

Based on official records of the Tolosa DRRMC, Castro Advincula, Romeo C. Maraya, 47 years old, Romeo Maraya, Jr., 14 years old, and a certain Dodo Calamaya, 60 years old, all residents of the municipality of Tolosa went fishing early morning of March 27.

Supposedly, based on their daily routine, they were expected to return home between 11:00 o’clock to 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the four fishermen failed to return.

On March 28 at about 12:00 o’clock noontime, the three fishermen arrived home safely without any injuries, but without Castro Advincula. Upon learning about this the office of the Mayor immediately informed the MDRRMC which reported the same to RDRRMC, and conducted search and rescue operations to no avail.

The PNP of Lawaan, Dulag, Mayorga and Abuyog were also contacted for help, in case the fishermen in the said municipalities will spot the fisherman in distress.

In the morning of March 29, the Tolosa MRRMC conducted search and rescue operations on the nearby waters up to Abuyog, but came home with negative results.

On March 29, at about 12:05 noontime, Castro C. Advincula arrived home safely without any injuries except for minor elevation of his blood pressure.

He was accompanied by two fishermen from San Roque, Abuyog, Leyte namely, Nestor Felicarta, 53 years old and Ernesto A. Mendras, 57 years old.

The two Abuyog fishermen were on their way fishing within the territorial waters of Abuyog bounded by the territorial waters of Silago, Leyte, at 5:00 o’clock in the morning of September 29 when they spotted and rescued Castro Advincula.