Family honors missing captain Gaspar Ponce in Panama memorial

In Puerto Caimito, Panama, relatives and friends gathered at a seaside viewpoint to commemorate Captain Gaspar Ponce, who has been missing since May. The ceremony, filled with prayers, songs, and floral tributes, served as an expression of love and a final farewell.

Jaime Ponce, the captain's nephew, remembered him as a person with a "very noble heart" and someone who was always dependable. Glenda Amaya, a cousin, described the event as a "closing of the cycle, of love and faith" for the family and community, signifying that Ponce has been found and is now in his "new dwelling, which is the sea."

Father Mario Jeremías, a Scalabrinian missionary who works with seafarers, called the moment "very significant and full of meaning for the family," emphasizing their desire for a dignified and Christian farewell. He also noted the Church's solidarity with the community.

Captain Gaspar Ponce disappeared on May 15 when the vessel Anchovetas 2 sank near Puerto Caimito. Extensive search operations by air, sea, and land failed to locate him. A nephew of Captain Ponce also perished in the shipwreck.