6 dead in Laguna de Bay boat accident
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recovered the bodies of six pilgrims who drowned when their overloaded boat capsized in Laguna de Bay on Maundy Thursday.
It identified the fatalities as: Jonalyn Procopio, 43; Lester Kent Desoloc, 18; Eleazar Jacob Manalo, 24; Jenald Pailan Sabado, 15; Joan Resurrecion, 18; and Mary Joylyn Quinola, 18.
They were among 15 people who were crossing the lake from the town of Pila in Laguna province to Jala-Jala in nearby Rizal when the boat capsized.
The PCG ended its search and retrieval operations on Saturday afternoon.
The teenagers were on their way to Jala-Jala as part of their Holy Week “panata” or vow when the incident happened.
The PCG report said the vessel capsized when one of the passengers was horsing around and sat on the side of the boat with no outrigger.
“The motorbanca is overloaded since the allowed carrying capacity of the motorbanca is only six persons,” the PCG added.
The survivors were identified as: Billy Joe Estacio, 25; Eric John Pillas, 19; John Paul Lacson, 20; Mark Justin Lacson, 15; Rempis Kaycee Caraos, 17; Aljin dela Cruz, 22; Raffy Mesa, 27; Myla Lacson, 35; and Leonel Pedrealba, 24.
