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Sunday, November 26, 2006
16 drown, 58 rescued as ferry capsizes off Surigao
By Ben Serrano
BUTUAN CITY -- A small ferry capsized in rough waters in Surigao City past 2 p.m. Saturday, leaving 16 passengers dead while 58 were rescued, a civil defense official said.
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Local authorities have not identified the passengers who drowned as of this posting but among those reported rescued was Del Carmen Mayor Arlene Navarro of Surigao del Norte province.
The vessel, MV Leonida II, capsized in the waters off Hinatuan islands, Surigao City, about 710 kilometers (444 miles) southeast of Manila, said Blanche Gobenchiong of the regional Office of the Civil Defense.
It wasn't immediately clear how many passengers were aboard, she said. Usually, such small ferries can carry about 160 people.
Surigao del Norte Vice Governor Rodolfo Navarro, cousin of the lady chief executive's husband -- former Surigao del Norte Congressman Constantino H. Navarro, confirmed that the mayor was among the passengers of the ill-fated ferry.
Coast Guard personnel are still conducting search and rescue operations and scouring off high and rough seas hoping to locate other survivors.
The lady chief executive was supposed to visit Del Carmen town to consult her constituents in her plans to run for Congress for Surigao del Norte's first district whose incumbent representative is the mother of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries leader Ruben Ecleo Jr.
Surigao City port authorities hinted that the ill-fated motor launch is overloaded with cargoes mostly personal belongings and 300 sacks of cement aside from passengers. (Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (November 26, 2006 issue)
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