Father appeals to BBM to locate missing son

Father appeals to BBM to locate missing son
Rhaydz B. Barcia January 4, 2025 https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/04/regions/father-appeals-to-bbm-to-...

LEGAZPI CITY — A grieving father has appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for help to find his missing son named Ralph Anthony Bobiles who is working as deck officer at Panama-flagged vessel Prestige Ace.

Elias Bobiles Jr., 62, a barangay captain of San Roque in Tabaco City, said his son is on board the ship bound for Baltimore, USA, to transport high-end cars.

Bobiles said his son, a seafarer, has been missing for nearly a month. He added his son boarded a cargo ship named Prestige Ace sailing under the flagship of Panama.

The father said his son went missing on Dec. 5. According to him, the ship's route was from Vera Cruz Port, Mexico to Baltimore Port, USA.

Bobiles he got learn the disappearance of his son when he appealed to fellow Filipino seafarers in a Facebook post to help his family locate his son.

"Now I'm desperately seeking information regarding his disappearance through social media. I hope this can help us find him. When I learned that my son went missing, I'm consumed by worry, each passing day without news about him feels like eternity. My heart is shattered into a million pieces thinking what could have happened to him," the father said.

He continued to appeal to his son's fellow Filipino seafarers onboard the Prestige Ace ship to provide them with information about his son's disappearance and to help them reunite with their son whatever the course may be.

"I am also appealing to his co-Filipino seafarers who were also onboard when he went missing. I know from the bottom of my heart that Ralph had been a good friend to all of you. Please help us with any information that will help us reunite with my son and find the truth about his disappearance," he said.

"As a father, it's unbearable not knowing my son's faith. Please help me reunite with my son. Any details, no matter how small, can help us bring my Ralph home. My son is more than just a seafarer, he's the heartbeat of our family, a devoted son, brother, husband and father of three precious children waiting for their dad to bring home presents last Christmas," he said.

He also urged the national government agencies and offices to help them fast track the investigation.
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"I am also pleading to all concerned government agencies and offices to help us fast track the investigation, please. Your prayers for his safe return will also be of great help in this most difficult time," he said in his Facebook post.

On Friday, Jan. 3, the grieving father told in an interview over the DZGB local radio station that his son, a deck cadet, was reported missing on Dec. 5 while the ship was heading for Baltimore, USA.

Elias believes foul play and negligence as the ship's officers failed to report his son's absence until 5:00 p.m., nearly seven hours after Ralph was last seen on that fateful day.

He said that based on the statement of facts from the government of Mexico, on the morning of Dec. 5, 2024, the crew participated in a toolbox meeting at 6:45 a.m. to assign tasks for the day.

"Ralph, working alongside ordinary seaman Michael Layao, began his duties aboard the 200-meter car carrier, which was transporting high-end vehicles. At around 10 a.m., Ralph and Layao took a 15-minute snack break. During this time, Layao saw Ralph heading towards his cabin," he said.

But Elias noted that there was no clear reason for Ralph to return to his cabin, considering the proximity of the crew mess hall to his cabin.

When work was resumed at 10:20 a.m., Layao checked on Ralph in his cabin but received no response, presuming that Ralph had returned to his assigned task.

Reports said that the crew continued with their duties, and by noon, Ralph had not been seen during lunch break. Subsequently, the seafarers' work resumed at 1 p.m., but no one had looked for him during that time until after 5:05 p.m. when a crew member reported Ralph missing the whole day which by then the ship had traveled far and the surroundings were dark.

The grieving father describes it as a nightmare underscoring the lapses of the ship officials.