3 drown, 2 missing as boat capsizes in North Cotabato

COTABATO CITY , Philippines  – Three persons, including a five-year-old boy, drowned while two others were reported missing when an overloaded passenger pump boat capsized in the waters of Kabacan in North Cotabato Wednesday morning, police said yesterday.

The fatalities were identified as Lilibeth Mandayas, 42, Gerry Marabe, 43, and his five-year-old son. Their bodies were recovered more than a kilometer downstream from the spot where the boat sank.

Cedric Mantawil, chairman of the Kabacan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council, said policemen, soldiers and barangay officials are still searching for May Jean Abarca, 26, and nine-year-old Genevieve Saliling.

Mantawil said the ill-fated boat was carrying elementary pupils, teachers and parents on their way to the town proper of Kabacan to participate in Math and Science contests at the state-run University of Southern Mindanao when the boat collided with a bigger vessel, causing it to turn over before it capsized at 5 a.m.

Authorities rescued 13 other passengers. They were Sofia Panambolan, 11; Cristin Porcadilla, 11; Mikki Gomata, 12; Danica Panigel, 10; Dante Mandadtem, 9; Nathaniel Maningola, 9; Jonmae Buenafe, 11; Jenny Ambag, 12; Jenecel Tomas, 11; and public school teachers Jenny Amella, Elvira Sepe, Ebma Escobar, and Edu Salipungan.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Benito Ramos said the local governments of Carmen, Datu Montawal and Pikit have provided manpower to search for the missing victims. – With Alexis Romero