Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Cast Away at Apo Island, Negros Oriental Philippines

A man who set out to sea in a styrofoam box last week was rescued on Monday off Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental after strong ocean currents carried him away from his intended destination, the province of Cebu.

The man, who identified himself as Reynaldo Roque, 31, married, of San Isidro, Leyte, had left Sitio Canday-ong in Barangay Calindagan here likely several days after he was rescued on MOnday. He seemed to be not in his right state of mind when interviewed by police investigators, said SPO4 Joel Alcala, deputy police chief of Dauin.

Alcala said Bantay Dagat personnel in Apo Island found Roque adrift in a styrofoam box on Monday dawn and rushed him ashore. He was turned over to a police personnel assigned at Apo Island, who, in turn, brought him to the Dauin police station.

Roque was mostly incoherent during police investigation, but despite his perceived mental illness, Alcala said the man disclosed that he was wandering around Dumaguete for awhile, sleeping at parks and scrounging for food to survive. Sometimes he would go for days without food, he further claimed.

Before that, he found his way to Mabinay town, about two hours drive north of this capital, but was also made to ride a passenger bus back to Dumaguete.

The man also claimed he wanted to go to Cebu, where he has a cousin, to seek employment but that he did not have fare money.

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