Port cops in Surigao, good Samaritans help distressed passenger
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) -- Port cops at the Port of Surigao and local good Samaritans came to the rescue of a distressed woman who found herself stranded and penniless at the Port of Surigao following a personal ordeal.
On the evening of June 13, at approximately 6:50 PM, Security Guard Escuyos, a roving guard on duty, alerted port officials to the presence of a distraught passenger near Gate 6 of the Port of Surigao. Responding swiftly to the call, port police officers, including PPOII Jessrey G. Yap, arrived at the dockworker shed to assess the situation.
The woman in question was identified as Marilou P. Lumangyao, a 48-year-old widow from Purok Lubi, Handumanan, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. In an emotional interview with port officials, Lumangyao revealed the heart-wrenching circumstances that led to her current predicament.
With only P3,000 to her name, Lumangyao embarked on a journey from Bacolod City to Dapa, Siargao Island, driven by the hope of reuniting with her live-in partner, and claiming her share of their joint business venture.
However, upon arriving in Siargao Island on June 12, her dreams were shattered as she suspected that she had fallen victim to a scam, allegedly orchestrated by her live-in partner who she claimed, is now involved with another person.
Left with no money and a broken heart, Lumangyao's return journey became a testament to human kindness. Good Samaritans at the Port of Dapa stepped in, helping her secure passage aboard MV Romans Road back to the Port of Surigao.
Upon her arrival, the Globalport Surigao Terminal Inc. provided her with a warm dinner, while port police officers ensured her safety as she sought shelter in the dockworker shed area.
The story took a positive turn on the morning of June 14, when PPOII Donking Federick J. Gonzales successfully coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to facilitate Lumangyao's onward journey. Through their efforts, she was granted passage aboard MV Starlite Archer of Starlite Ferries Inc., bound for Cebu City—a crucial step in her long journey back home to Bacolod City.
Before boarding, an emotional Lumangyao expressed profound gratitude to the port authorities for their exceptional assistance during her time of need. (PPA-PMO Surigao/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
