Over 50 people saved in motorbanca accident

CEBU, Philippines - A Bohol-bound passenger motorbanca ran aground off Lawis Ledge yesterday afternoon.

Motorbanca Clarin Cruiser was carrying 47 passengers and seven banca crew members when it was battered by waves and strong winds shortly after leaving Pasil Port in Cebu City.

A joint rescue operation was immediately conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard, Naval Forces Central (NavForCen), with the aid from emergency responders from other areas.

As of last night, no casualties or serious injuries were reported, said Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission chief Ranolfo Sabusa.

The first batch of 17 rescued survivors was brought by Navy rubber boats to the NavForCen gym where they were provided with food.

Coast Guard rescuers were able to rescue 10 adult survivors.

They were brought to the Cebu City Bantay Dagat station near the South Road Properties where the city government provided them food. They were also transferred to the NavForCen gym.

Personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7, as well as Cordova social workers, also responded and went to the NavForCen gym to check on the situation of the survivors.

According to PCG District Central Visayas chief Commodore William Melad, the boat captain opted to maneuver the banca to avoid the rough seas and to “intentionally run aground” the boat.

The banca sustained a hole from the strong waves, prompting the captain to seek safer grounds and in their case—the shallow portion of the Lawis Ledge, said Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak as per initial information gathered by Cebu City Bantay Dagat and Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Navforcen chief Commodore Ronald Joseph Mercado said two teams composed of nine members each were deployed on board two rubber boats for search and rescue efforts.

The Coast Guard report said the passenger banca was owned by Fulgencia H. Cellan of Poblacion Sur, Clarin, Bohol while the home port of the boat is in Tagbilaran City.

The boat’s captain was identified as Raul Alipuyo, 41, from Inabanga, Bohol.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said that the town’s marine watchtower, located at the islet fronting Lawis Ledge, helped them respond first to the emergency.

He said the captain made a good decision of maneuvering the vessel to the shallow portion of the sea as the other side was already deep.  — Jessa J. Agua/ATO (FREEMAN)