Hopes dim for 9 missing Filipinos on Korean trawler

MANILA, Philippines – Two days after a South Korean trawler sank off Russia, 9 Filipino sailors remain missing in the rough, icy-cold waters of the Bering Sea.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said South Korean and Russian officials are searching for the crewmembers “without let-up” but it was possible the Filipinos died.

“Maybe when the bodies are recovered, we can start thinking about [bringing the relatives to Russia],” DFA Spokesperson Charles Jose said in a press briefing on Wednesday, December 3.

At the time Jose gave the briefing, there were still 10 missing Filipinos. But the South Korean foreign ministry said in a press statement later that the remains of 11 crewmembers were recovered on Wednesday, including one Filipino, 7 Indonesians, and 3 South Koreans.

Thirteen Filipino crewmembers were on board the Oriong-501 that sank on Monday, December 1, along the coast of Russia’s far eastern region of Chukotka. Three were among those rescued on Tuesday, identified by the DFA as the following:

• Rowell Aljecera
• Micol Sabay
• Teddy Parangue Jr

Jose said the survivors are “being attended to and given proper medical attention.” They are currently on board Russian vessels Zaliv Zabiyaka and Karolina-77.

The DFA withheld releasing the names of the missing sailors, saying the government is still notifying their relatives about the tragedy.

The ship carried about 60 crewmembers, including the 13 Filipinos, a Russian inspector, 11 South Koreans, and 35 Indonesians. 

Bad weather is hampering search and rescue, with Russia leading the effort. Jose said US search teams were en route to the Bering Sea to assist Russia and South Korea.

“[On Tuesday,] the South Korean foreign minister called [Foreign] Secretary Albert del Rosario to assure him the rescue efforts are ongoing for the crewmembers of the Korean fishing vessel,” Jose said.

The Philippine Embassy in Moscow deployed a two-person team to the Russian port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where the region’s marine rescue center is coordinating the search.

The Philippine Consul General in Vladivostok is tasked with monitoring the fate of the missing sailors while the Philippine Embassy in Seoul is coordinating with South Korea’s government and shipping agencies.

The trawler sank while it was catching pollock, a delicacy in South Korea.

The Philippines is known as the world’s leading supplier of seafarers, with Filipinos comprising almost 400,000 or a quarter of the world’s 1.5 million sailors.

Canned tuna company blamed

Wire agencies reported that search and rescue workers found between one and 4 lifeboats. They also found at least one body floating in the area but could not recover it due to stormy weather.

Jose said the Philippines was unaware of reports in South Korean media blaming ship owner Sajo Industries, a canned tuna company, for the sinking of the trawler.

“Due to inclement weather and big waves, water entered the vessel,” Jose said.

Yet the Korea Herald and the Korea Times said that families of the South Korean crewmembers blamed Sajo Industries for supposedly failing to immediately issue an evacuation order.  

Footage of a meeting at the company’s head office on Tuesday showed relatives shouting, “Stop blaming the captain. The company should have ordered an evacuation in such a crisis.” 

The South Korean media outlets also reported that the Sajo Group “has long been accused of abuses on the high seas” including alleged labor and human rights violations, and illegal fishing.

Series of tragedies                                                                                                

The tragedy comes just less than 8 months since Seoul’s deadliest maritime disaster in decades. In April, the Sewol ferry sank off South Korea’s southwestern coast left more than 300 passengers dead, mostly teenagers on a school trip.

The sinking of the Sewol ferry prompted an overhaul of South Korea’s coast guard, with the government promising to tighten maritime regulations and ship safety checks.

After the sinking of the Oriong-501, South Korea’s government convened an emergency meeting. Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said that they will work with Russia to speed up efforts.

He said: “The unfortunate accident truly breaks my heart. Above all, I pray the deceased rest in peace and hope that the missing people are quickly rescued.” – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com