14 March 2008—The Japan Coast Guard continues its search for two missing Filipino crew members of MV Gold Leader which sank after a three-ship collision in the Akaahi Strait on 05 March 2006.

The 5^th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Kobe confirmed to the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka that four (4) vessels and one (1) airplane with a combined crew of 35 coast guard personnel are tasked to continue the search for Ricardo Jaynario Salvador, Jr. and Rodryan Adio Bracamonte, who remain missing.

The 1,466-ton Belize-registered freighter manned by nine (9) Filipino crew members was struck by 2,498-ton tanker Ocean Phoenix after the latter collided with Daigo Eisei Maru, a gravel carrier. After the Gold Leader sank, passing fishing boats and other vessels rescued six of its crew members, one of whom perished at a local hospital.

The body of Captain Tomasniri D. Demandaco, Jr., Gold Leader skipper, was recovered by a fishing trawler in the afternoon of March 6. Said fishing trawler participated in the large-scale search and rescue operations conducted by the Japan Coast Guard from March 5 to 10 which involved 48 vessels, eight (8) airplanes and eight (8) helicopters with a combined crew of 450 Japan Coast guard personnel and augmented by fishing boats and other vessels from the private sector.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate General continues to monitor the investigations being conducted by the Japan Coast Guard on the collision as part of the assistance it is extending to the five survivors from MV Gold Leader. The Consulate also mobilized the Filipino community In Kobe to provide monetary and material assistance to the five seafarers who lost all their possessions in the tragedy. Under the leadership of long-time Kobe resident Mr Rolando V. Mendiola and Nakayamate Catholic Church pastor Fr. Cirilo Orradre, the Filipino community warmly responded with donations of cash amounting to ¥265,730 as well as new clothes, shoes and winter clothing to the survivors. END