1 dead, 1 missing as boat sinks in Camarines Sur

LEGAZPI CITY — Policemen and personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday continued searching for a boatman who went missing after his motorized banca, which was carrying 21 passengers, sank into the waters off Sipocot town in Camarines Sur on Wednesday night, police said.

 
Chief Insp. Jerome Regachuelo, Sipocot police chief, said the boat operated by Artemio Sabalbero, 60, was ferrying a group that would serve as advance party to a government medical mission in Barangay San Vicente when it was battered by huge waves.

 
The boat came from Barangay Mangga and sank at 7 p.m. some 100 meters from the shore of its destination in Barangay San Vicente.

 
Regachuelo said 20 passengers survived by clinging to a big plastic bag that packed their belongings and other materials for the medical mission.

 
But another passenger, Reynante Calayo, drowned. His body was recovered at 12:10 a.m.