Boat capsizes off Mindoro; 11 crew members rescued

BATANGAS CITY — Battered by huge waves, a fishing boat capsized off Ambulong Island in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro early yesterday morning. Its 11 crew members, five of them women, were rescued, the Coast Guard said.

The 10-ton MV Gilbert, loaded with ice and bound for Concepcion, Abutaya, Palawan, sank some 10.5 nautical miles from the San Jose port, at about 5:30 a.m.

Commander Avelino Fortuna, deputy commander of the 5th Coast Guard district, said southwest winds could have caused the huge waves that battered the vessel.

Fortunately, a cargo vessel, MV Agoncillo, happened to pass by and rescued the 11 crew members.

"We had come from Iligan City and were sailing toward Bataan when we saw people waving at us while clinging on to the sides of their capsized boat," related Perseus Aguilar, captain of MV Agoncillo.

Aguilar immediately radioed the Coast Guard about the accident.

Manuel Ramos, owner of the capsized vessel, said he requested Aguilar to help save his boat but it eventually sank because of the huge waves.

Rescued were Rodolfo Rapsing, 45; Cris Bantog, 25; Jaypee Bartolome, 17; Henaro Estartero, 16; Cedimar Reyes, 29; Lailani Ramos, 37; Sheryl Rapsing, 17; Basion Rapsing, 44; Liza Rapsing, 19; Manuel Ramos, 38; and Arnel Royo, 23. All are residents of Barangay Pagasa, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. — Arnell Ozaeta, Sheila Crisostomo