February 28, 2001, Inquirer, Missing fishermen feared abducted, by Peter La. Julian,

February 28, 2001, Inquirer, Missing fishermen feared abducted, by Peter La. Julian, 

SAN FERNANDO CITY -- Relatives of five fishermen in Infanta, Pangasinan, who were reported missing since Jan. 18 after they went fishing in the South China Sea, have asked social welfare officials here to help find their relatives.

The relatives, quoting other fishermen who were with the group, said they were captured by men believed to be Taiwanese fishermen.

The five were identified as Miguelito Murcia, Ricardo Rada, Joseph Masalta, Junie Gabuna and William Canlon, all of Barangay Fatima in Infanta.

They went fishing aboard the Queen Alvie III, a motorized banca owned by Murcia.

Cristeta Absolor, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, said a report sent by Daisy Ofalzo, Infanta social welfare officer, showed that the missing fishermen were with another group of local fishermen in a motorized boat.

Ofalzo said that while in the high seas, suspected Taiwanese fishermen aboard a fishing vessel accosted Murcia’s group.

She said the other group of fishermen fled, but when they returned, they found only Murcia’s banca.

Ofalzo said the Infanta fishermen were fishing within Philippine waters as their boat was neither built nor equipped with facilities to enable it to venture beyond the 200-mile fishing ground limit.

She said the Taiwanese fishermen might have blamed the Filipinos for the removal of their fishing gears and other traps in the area.

Ofalzo said the other group of fishermen towed Murcia’s boat to Subic Bay where they usually dock after a fishing expedition and reported the incident to authorities. 
-- Peter La. Julian, PDI Northern Luzon Bureau