Wife of missing Filipino seafarer from Rio Tinto ship calls for justice

Wife of missing Filipino seafarer from Rio Tinto ship calls for justice
7 January 2025 https://www.sbs.com.au/language/filipino/en/podcast-episode/wife-of-miss...

Wife of a missing Pinoy seaman from a Rio Tinto ship demands justice. [L-R] (first photo) Gel Aguaviva, (second photo) wife Necie May, daughters and deck fitter Gel Aguaviva. Credit: Necie May Aguaviva
Necie May, the wife of Gel Aguaviva, revealed that her husband once mentioned possible jealousy from his crewmates, likely due to the captain’s frequent praise of his exceptional work.

Key Points

*Necie May Aguaviva is currently in deep mourning over the disappearance of her husband, Gel, a crew member aboard a Rio Tinto vessel. The last time she spoke to him was on the afternoon of December 25, 2024. However, by the morning of December 26, 2024, it was reported that deck fitter Gel Aguaviva went missing while the ship was navigating the Sulu Sea.

*According to Necie May, her husband had never mentioned having any enemies, but he once shared that there could have been someone on board who might have been jealous of him. She believes this jealousy might have been due to the captain’s frequent praise for his excellent work. Because of this, the family is calling for an investigation into all the crew members aboard the ship to ensure justice for Gel. Necie May also revealed that Gel was scheduled to disembark in May 2025 to attend their child’s grade 10 graduation and spend time with their three-year-old youngest child.

*The Philippine Coast Guard has announced that they are collaborating with Rio Tinto in the search for the missing crew member while an investigation is ongoing aboard the ship in Australia. Gel Aguaviva was from Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte.