Bodies of 2 Viet fishermen still unclaimed

BANI, Pangasinan—For almost a week now, Alberto Ventenilla, owner of the Bani Funeral Homes here, has been receiving important visitors.

It was in his funeral parlor where the bodies of two Vietnamese fishermen were taken on Sept. 24, after they were found dead on the deck of their boat following a chase by a Philippine Navy ship in the West Philippine Sea on Sept. 23.

The coffins of Le Van Liem and Le Van Reo, both 41, occupy a chapel at Ventenilla’s funeral parlor.

“Vietnamese embassy officials, military and police officers and the media have been coming here almost every day,” said Ventenilla.

But he said the relatives of the fishermen have not come yet.

The boat’s captain, Pham To, 34, and his crew, Phan Lam, 34, Nguyen Thanh Chi, 49, Phan Van Liem, 41, and Nguyen Van Trong, 41, were arrested and detained at their fishing boat docked at the wharf in Sual town in Pangasinan province. —GABRIEL CARDINOZA