PCG rescues 35 after motor banca sinks off San Francisco, Quezon

A child drowned while 29 other passengers and six crew members were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday morning after a motor banca sunk off San Francisco, Quezon.

According to PCG spokesperson Captain Armand Balilo, the motor banca was heading to Sombrero Island in Masbate when the incident happened.

“Isa lang ho yung nakakalungkot na nasawi at ito ay bata. Yun lang ang main information na meron tayo pero sa oras na ito, all accounted na po lahat yung sakay nung nasabing banka,” he said in an interview with dzMM.

The age and gender of the child has yet to be determined by authorities, Balilo said.

Balilo said they would also look into the angle that the motor banca was overloaded.

“Hindi pa namin matiyak kung gaano kalaki itong bangka, pero titingnan natin ito pagkatapos mag-attend doon sa mga tao na mga survivors,” he said.

Balilo said the dead child and the other survivors are now at Sitio Mayantoc in Quezon. /muf