4 dead, 2 missing as boat capsizes off Albay town

LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines – Four people died, including a 12-year-old girl, and two others were reported missing when a motorized passenger boat, M/B John Aspe, capsized in the waters of Bacacay town in Albay Friday afternoon, authorities reported yesterday.

Ensign Criselda Borais, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Bicol spokesperson, identified the fatalities as Diego Crisol, the boat captain; Emerlita Barrameda, a high school teacher; Jeffrey Osorio; and Liza Espenise; all residents of the town’s coastal villages.

She said the bodies of Crisol, Osorio and Espenise were recovered from the water while Barrameda died while being treated at the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Legazpi City. The 22 survivors were rushed to various hospitals in Tabaco City and Legazpi City.

The boat, which has 26 people on board, was headed to Poblacion, Bacacay when it encountered engine trouble and capsized some 1.89 nautical miles off Barangay Poblacion. 

Norma Berjuela, one of the survivors, said the boat ran out of gasoline, and big waves smashed the vessel while the captain was pouring gasoline into the engine.

M/B John Aspe is reportedly owned and operated by Lorna Bejo with business address in Barangay Napad, Bacacay town.

The vessel reportedly sailed without a clearance from the PCG. – Evelyn Macairan, Celso Amo, Francis Elevado, Cet Dematera