Saturday, February 23, 2008 Cop swims ashore as boat capsizes
A POLICEMAN and a bantay dagat member on seaborne patrol had to swim ashore after their motorized boat capsized Wednesday afternoon in rough waters off Tudela town, Camotes Island, Cebu.
No one was hurt but the ammunition for an M16 rifle brought by PO2 Wilfredo Clarin got lost.
Reynaldo Donayre of the Bantay Dagat Commission in Tudela town and PO2 Clarin were responding to a report on alleged illegal fishing in Barangay Puertobello.
A concerned caller informed them of illegal fishing of sabalo or awa fishes.
They took the pump boat owned by the Municipality of Tudela.
When they reached the seawaters of Barangay Calmante, Tudela, they were met by huge waves and strong winds.
The pump boat capsized at 5:30 p.m. They reportedly had no choice but to abandon the capsized pump boat and swim to the shoreline of Calmante.
However, Clarin lost three long magazines and ammunition for his issued M16 rifle.
Choppy waters surrounding Camotes Island have led to recent sea mishaps.
In November last year, three persons including a 10-month-old baby died after a motorized banca capsized off the coast of Barangay Kawit, Pilar, Camotes Island.
A crew member had said that a water spout caused the rope that tied the boat to the dock to break and eventually capsize. They had been waiting for another boat that arrived before theirs to dock, which was why they stayed some 50 meters away from the docking area. GC/MEA
