False hope was raised yesterday when information reached Victorias City that the seven fishermen missing at sea had been found alive and were in Batayan Island.

Bimboy Claro, owner of F/B Inday Sweet, that sank Thursday between Gigantes Islands off the coast of northeastern Iloilo, and Madridejos town in Bantayan, Cebu, said the information they received proved to be false, none of the seven had been found.

Claro said the F/B Inday Sweet was toppled by big waves as it was sailing back to Victorias City.

The Coast Guard has been saying that their search for the missing fishermen has been hampered by foul weather, but he has also sent out his own fishing boats in search for them, Claro said.

Lt. Commander Ramil Palabrica, Coast Guard Bacolod Station chief, yesterday assured that the Coast Guard is continuing with its search and rescue operations for the seven.

Some relatives of the missing have complained that the Coast Guard has not been exerting enough effort to find the seven fishermen.

Palabrica has indentified the missing skipper of F/B Inday Sweet as Johnrey Vergara, and the crewmen as Antic Celeste, Gerry Bangalisan and Norberto Patriarca, and three others known only as Jomar, Jimbol and Arnel.

Claro said he was thankful that Victorias Mayor Francis Palanca provided food and financial assistance to the families of the missing fishermen yesterday.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said fishermen should not be hardheaded, they should not go out to sea when there are warnings of foul weather to avoid loss of lives.*CPG

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