By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – 20 persons were rescued Sunday afternoon from a capsized motor banca that was traversing Olotayan Island to Brgy. Baybay here.
Judy Grace Pelaez, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, said the incident happened at 2:30 pm Sunday.
Pelaez said 15 members of a family and 6 crewmembers of M/B Toto Pen were rescued by volunteers.
The family went island hopping in Olotayan Island and was about to go home when they got stranded near Mantalinga island.
A strong wave hit the boat which caused it to capsize.
Personnel in a watch tower in Baybay area saw the incident and immediately responded.
The rescued passengers from Roxas City were:
- Jao Altavas, 32
- J Carlos Salazar, 27
- Jose Arcenas, 40
- Jose Alba, 27
- Karen Arcenas, 41
- Theo Arcenas, 21
- Patrick Valenzuela, 25
- EB Yap, 26
- Elisha Valenzuela, 22
- Zaida Alba, 25
- April Furia, 32
- Paolo Asis, 26
- Nadim Altavas, 20
- Kareza Avol, 25
The crewmembers of the motor boat were:
- Soler Deocampo, 42, (Boat Captain)
- Mark Dela Cruz
- Emer Arches
- Ruel Umiten
- Christian Carl Deocampo
- Diasa Trinidad
The rescue volunteers that responded to the drowning incident were Philippine Coast Guard Station – Roxas, Capiz Emergency Response Team (CERT), Roxas City Emergency Response Team (RCERT), Roxas City Police Station, among others.
