Scavenger tries to swim from Cebu to Bohol to visit departed parents

Scavenger Ceferino Angco after he was rescued from the waters off Talisay City on Monday. Gerard Francisco/Cebu Daily News

Updated @ 11:30 p.m., Oct. 29, 2018

CEBU CITY — Ceferino Angco, 47, wanted to visit the graves of his family and relatives in Carmen town, Bohol province, on All Saints’ Day but did not have money for a boat ride.

A determined Angco decided instead to swim his way home late on Saturday night. But he was unable to go far.

Members of the local Bantay Dagat (sea patrol) saw Angco hanging on to a floating piece of Styrofoam at 8 a.m. on Sunday, and pulled him out of the waters off Talisay City.

A scavenger in Cebu, Angco said he could not afford to buy a ticket for the ride home to Bohol.

So he decided to swim and cross Cebu Strait, which separates the islands of Cebu and Bohol.

A fast craft ride from Cebu City to Bohol costs between P250 and P500, and takes about two hours of travel.

“I am embarrassed to ask money for fare,” Angco said.

So he started swimming from the vicinity of Malacañang sa Sugbo in Cebu City around 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Just a few meters after, fatigue started to set in. Angco then clung to a Styrofoam to stay afloat.

He was in the water for nine hours until he was rescued by Felix Angco (no relation) and other members of Bantay Dagat.

“He said it was better that he would just swim to Bohol than commit a crime. He was hoping someone would see him and take pity on him,” Felix said.

Talisay Councilor Antonio Bacaltos Jr. on Monday bought Angco a ticket for a fast craft so he could go home to Bohol.

Angco left of Cebu on a 1:30 p.m. trip on Monday.