DUMAGUETE CITY – Seven passengers, including four minors, were rescued off the coast of Barangay Pisong in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, early Thursday morning after their motorized banca capsized due to water intrusion.
Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Negros Oriental, said the passengers had been stranded in the water for several hours before a fisherman spotted and rescued them around 5 a.m.
According to Enopia, the group was returning to their hometown in Barangay Kalabonon, Dumanjug, Cebu after visiting the graves of deceased relatives during the Undas observance.
“They boarded a small motor banca and departed from the port in Barangay Bulado in Guihulngan City (Negros Oriental) on Wednesday evening,” Enopia said, citing a report from the Coast Guard substation in that northern city.
Initial investigation showed that the boat experienced engine trouble and failed to restart. Water eventually entered the vessel, causing it to capsize around 8 p.m.
With no means of communication, the passengers remained in the water until fisherman Georgy Oliviros spotted them while fishing and immediately came to their rescue.
They were brought ashore in Barangay Martilo, La Libertad, where personnel from the Coast Guard and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office rendered assistance.
The rescued passengers were given food and transported to a hospital for medical evaluation. All seven were declared safe and sustained no injuries.
The Coast Guard also arranged their onward journey aboard the roll-on/roll-off vessel MV Island III, which transported them from Bulado Port in Guihulngan City to Barangay Tangil in Dumanjug, Cebu on Thursday afternoon.
The rescued individuals were identified as Felipe Mahinay, 46; Roel Alcorera Bani, 20; and Raquel M. Vilando, 38, along with four minors, aged 9, 10, 12 and 14.
Meanwhile, authorities have yet to locate the capsized motor banca, which is described as blue and powered by a 13-horsepower engine.
Enopia said the Coast Guard has alerted nearby coastal communities to report any sightings of the missing vessel. (PNA)
