K9 dogs to help in search for missing kagawad

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The K9 Unit of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station-Capiz will help in searching for the village council member or kagawad who remains missing after his banca capsized due to flood caused by tropical depression “Agaton.”

According to PCG-Capiz Station Commander Jose B. Jacinto, they will conduct informal search and retrieval operation wherein K-9 sniffing dogs will be deployed to look for Barangay Kagawad Alberto Duron of Barangay Balatucan, Panitan town.

The kagawad was the lone missing person when two bancas capsized while sailing on Panay River in Barangay Poblacion, Ilawod, Panitan town.

Jacinto believes that the deployment of K-9 unit of Coast Guards will help in the search.

The PCG asked the cooperation of the public, particularly those living beside the river and seashore, to inform the local authorities once they find a person.

Petty Officer First Class Renante Palabrica, Petty Officer in Charge for K9 Unit-Capiz, said the Coast Guard sniffing dog can detect a body that is buried even six feet below the ground.

The Panitan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has stopped its search and retrieval operation on Duron after a week of failed search. The stoppage was coordinated with Duron’s family.