Fisherman, Lapu emergency chief, naval officer commended by Korean consulate

Samson Sumile, a fisherman from Camotes islands shows the plaque and a gift given by the Korean consulate for helping in the search and rescue operations of Korean divers who went missing for two days. (CDN PHOTO/ JOSE SANTINO S. BUNACHITA)

The Korean Consulate in Cebu commended three persons who helped in the search and rescue operations for three Korea divers who went missing last month.

One of them is 48-year old fisherman and farmer Samson Sumile who found and helped female diver Kim Eun.

He received a plaque of appreciation and gift from the consulate. The family of Kim Eun also gave him P50,000 cash.

Sumile said he didn’t expect to be awarded for what he did since he just wanted to help the diver whom he found floating two hours away from land.

“Dako kaayong dungog ni para nako. Bisan sa akong pagka way grado ug pagka pobre. Wa ko nagtuo nga makasaka ko ani lugara ug makahimamat aning mga tawhana nga naay mga grado (This is a big honor for me. Despite my lack of education and poverty I didn’t believe that I would be in this place and recognized by people with distinction),” Sumile said.

Consul General Lee Ki-Seog personally handed the plaque Wednesday morning at the consular office in the Cebu Business Park.

Other awardees include Sandy Martin Berame, head of the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Lt. James Reyes of the Naval Forces Central of the Philippine Navy.

BACKSTORY: Koreans missing hours after dive |  Two Korean divers found alive in Camotes Island, 1 still missing