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The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) confirmed on Saturday, September 5, the rescue of the second Philippine seafarer from the ill-fated Gulf Livestock 1 cargo ship, which sank off the coast of Japan on September 2.
In a statement, Silvestre Labor Secretary Bello III said the Japanese Coast Guard rescued the second survivor from the ship identified as Jay-Nel Rosales, 30, of Cebu.
“Rosales, a deck crew member, was rescued by the Kaimon patrol boat, and he is stable and can walk alone, according to a report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Osaka,” Bello said.
“Rosales, who was taken to Kagoshima-ken Kenritsu Ooshima hospital for a full medical checkup, was already able to speak with his family in Cebu,” he added.
As for the first crew member to be rescued, Eduardo Sareno, the chief of work said the Oslob, Cebu native remains in hospital but will be taken to a hotel for quarantine later this week.
He said that Sareno has been provided with a mobile phone to communicate with his family in the Philippines.
Bello also said that a separate body, believed to be that of another Filipino crew member, was pulled from the waters.
The Polo in Osaka said the identity of the body has yet to be determined, Bello said.
Last Wednesday, September 2, the ship registered in Panama, Gulf Livestock 1, sank in Japanese waters after being caught in a typhoon at sea.
The freighter was carrying around 5,800 head of cattle and 43 crew members, including 39 Filipino nationals.
Bello assured the families of the 39 Filipino seafarers that they are in constant communication with the Japanese Coast Guard regarding search and rescue operations.
“We are updating the families of our unfortunate Filipino crew members every time we receive information from the Japanese Coast Guard,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Bello said the Philippine government is prepared to provide all necessary assistance to the survivors and families of the missing Filipino crew members, especially as they are all active members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa).
Added to this, he said, is the fact that the Polo in Japan is available to meet all the needs of the rescued seafarers, including their personal requirements.
“We are in contact with the closest family members of the crew and we are giving them all the help we can provide,” Bello said. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)
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