FORCED by hunger, five crew members left their ship to buy food but alert residents and police officers intercepted their lifeboat in Barangay Lapasan, this city yesterday.
Cagayan de Oro City Police Office spokesman Maj. Ivan Viñas said the five crew members of cargo ship M/V King Evaristo was immediately turned over to the Philippine Coast Guard after they arrested.
During the investigation, Viñas said the crew members told them their food had run out since their ship docked in Cagayan de Oro and anchored at the Macajalar Bay on April 1.
“They were hungry already so decided to use one of their lifeboats to buy food ashore,” Viñas said.
Unfortunately for the crew, he said, alert residents of Barangay Lapasan saw what they did and alerted the police.
Viñas said police officers and barangay tanods were already waiting for the crew at the Lapasan Coastal Road where they landed.
He said the Philippine Coast Guard has summoned the ship captain Ernesto Culanag for questioning.
The arrested crew members have been identified as Ivem Stephen Verde Vigo, a resident of Roxas, Capiz; Madison Santos, a resident of Pampanga; John Harold Fabilio of Caloocan; Rexfield Llorico of Capiz; and Raniel Gala Alvaro of Caloocan city.
The inter-island cargo ship came from Siargao Island and was waiting for a shipment of cement which it would deliver to Surigao City.
Cagayan de Oro is on heightened alert after Community Quarantine measures were implemented on March 19 to prevent the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease. (Froilan Gallardo)
