Missing construction worker’s body found off Culion town in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – Authorities have recovered the body of a construction worker who went missing last week while swimming along Lio Beach in El Nido town in Palawan.

In a report sent to Rappler on Monday, October 23, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) El Nido Station said it instructed its Culion Substation to retrieve the body of Rafael Cannilas Jr., 32, off Sitio Lamaylamay, Barangay Carabao in Culion town.

The victim’s body was successfully retrieved at around 3 pm Saturday, October 21, and was positively identified through his body tattoos by his 3 co-workers.

Authorities have advised Cannilas’ co-workers to inform the relatives so that the body can be transferred from Culion to the victim’s residence in Novaliches, Quezon City.

The PCG El Nido Station launched a search-and-rescue operation a few hours after receiving a report that the victim was swept away by a strong sea current at around 11 am on October 16.

PCG El Nido Station’s Deputy Commander Harvey Marmol, meanwhile, said they have yet to retrieve the body of Jeruel Aliguay, 33, a resident of San Vicente town, who also went missing on the same day after the motorized banca he and his two co-workers were riding capsized off El Nido’s Tapiutan Island.

The search-and-retrieval operation for Aliguay’s body continues.

The two sea mishaps occurred due to a low pressure area off Coron town last week, making the sea waters rough and search-and-rescue operations challenging, Marmol said. – Rappler.com