1 dead, 2 missing after motor boat capsizes

The captain and radio operator of tanker M/V Michael 1 were reported missing while its quartermaster was found dead after their motor boat capsized off the seawaters of Catarman, Liloan town late Wednesday evening.

A certain Nilo Dinampo, of sitio Suba, Poblacion, Liloan town reported to town policemen that at about 11 p.m. Wednesday night, a service boat capsized.

Responding police led by SPO4 Elizar Salomon conducted investigation and revealed that there were 10 crewmen on the motor boat when it sank, of which three were reported missing. These were ship captain Rudy Sabellano, radio operator Romeo Sangcap and quartermaster Benjie Bulala.

At about 3:20 a.m. yesterday, Dinampo again reported that the body of Bulala was found floating in sea waters off sitio Makaloka, which is several meters away from where the service boat sank. Bulala was immediately brought to a nearby hospital but was declared dead by the attending physician.

Petty Officer First Class Francisco Mandal of the Cebu City Coast Guard said the crewmen were aboard the motor boat on their way to their tanker, which dropped anchor near the place.

He identified the survivors as oilers Domingo Ebarle, Roselito Libut-Libut, apprentice mates Roy Basalan, Jover Camuiging, and Meljun Salundanquit, 2nd Engineer Jaime Roble, and Quarter Master Julius Magalona.

Divers from the Special Operations Group of the Coast Guard are still conducting search and rescue operations as of press time to find the missing crewmen. - Norvie S. Misa