DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Fifteen persons went missing on Monday afternoon of January 19 when their recreational boat capsized along Davao Gulf. One person, the boat’s crewman, was rescued on Tuesday morning.
The boat, an outrigger named MBCA Amejara, sailed out of the municipality of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental on Monday around 1 pm with 12 passengers and four crew members.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station reported that they were later notified that the boat had capsized and passengers and crew were clinging on to the overturned boat.
The last time the boat communicated with authorities was on Monday afternoon around 4:30 pm while sailing around Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental and Sarangani Province when their boat capsized.
Rescue operations were launched after the reported incident, but was called off after two hours around 7 pm because of strong winds and waves.
On Tuesday, the PCG was able to rescue one of the crewmen, Christopher Bulig, around 10:30 am along the shores in Sarangani Island, and brought him for medical treatment. The search continues for the 14 other missing persons, as the PCG has deployed boats and aircraft across Davao Gulf.
The PCG said that the outrigger sailed without their clearance.
The missing are Patrocinio Genita III (the boat master), Christian Genita, Homer Bolasa, John Julius Alcain, Anton Banzali, Ace Cortez, Hector Emberga, Ranil Florino, Rogelio Gomez, Porferio Lanorias Jr., Levi Lao, Mac Napole, Steven Tan, Herwin Tan, and Earlan Uyking.(davaotoday.com)
