Friday, November 02, 2007
Banca sinks off Pilar; 3 die
THEY were heading to their hometown to visit the graves of loved ones during the religious holidays.
Instead, three persons, including a 10-month-old boy, died after a passenger boat capsized off the coast of Barangay Kawit, Pilar, Camotes Island, Cebu Wednesday night.
Two remain missing.
Most of the passengers were from Cebu and Lapu-Lapu City and had gone to the island town to pay their respects to their dead during the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day holidays.
The official police report stated the mb Anton II did not dock immediately due to bad weather.
However, a crew member interviewed over radio dyDD Wednesday night said a water spout caused the rope that tied the boat to the dock to break and eventually capsize.
The mb Anton II left the Danao City wharf nearly 2 p.m. with 13 passengers and 16 crewmembers.
The boat is reportedly owned by Pilar Councilor Antonieto Pedericos and can hold up to 200 passengers.
Two of the passengers got off in Barangay Kanipaan, Poro town, while the rest proceeded to Barangay Kawit.
As they neared the docking site in Kawit, another pump boat was unloading passengers, prompting them to stay back some 50 meters until the first boat finished unloading.
The fatalities were identified as Eleonor Omolon Tecling, 50, Edcel dela Cruz, 10 months old, and Liza Cabilllo Godinez, 30.
Missing as of press time are Edcel’s father Edgar and Liza’s 10-year-old son, Warly Godinez Jr.
All 16 crew members survived the tragedy while Eleonor’s 13-year-old son, France Ian Tecling, was rescued by the crew.
The official police report stated that a huge wave sank the boat.
But crew member Pedro Borinaga, interviewed over radio dyDD Wednesday night, said they were some 50 meters away from the dock.
A rope was already tied to a marker to keep the boat from straying, but they decided to stay at a distance as the first pump boat was unloading passengers.
Just then, a water spout hit the boat, breaking the rope and capsizing the boat.
Chief Insp. Virgilio Apurado, who heads the subtask group sent to Camotes Island for the election and for the holidays, proceeded to the area to supervise the initial search.
Philippine Coast Guard Visayas Command Chief Edmund Tan said the vessel was already towed to Ginkan-an, Poro in Camotes Island.
The boat captain was advised to file a marine protest on the accident. (MEA/With EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (November 2, 2007 issue)
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