11 survive as boat capsizes in Sorsogon town

LEGAZPI CITY––Eleven persons heading to a coastal resort were rescued from a motorboat that capsized after big waves in the sea off Matnog town in Sorsogon battered it Thursday afternoon, police said Friday.

Major Jabesh Napolis, Matnog police chief, said a group of fishermen rescued the 10 passengers, and Junior Bio, owner of the boat, that capsized around 4:30 p.m in Barangay Calintaan, a kilometer away from the shoreline.

He said the unregistered fishing boat was rented for P1,000 by the passengers, all of them young adults, in Barangay Tabunan, for a trip to a resort on Subic Beach, a popular beach destination on Matnog.

They were on their way to Subic Beach when the boat capsized, said Napolis.

No one was hurt in the incident, but the victims’ belongings could no longer be recovered.

Napolis said the trip was not coordinated with the Matnog tourism office.

Sorsogon Tourism Officer Bobby Gigantone said Friday that they would meet with the Coast Guard, local government, coastal village officials, and boat operators to ensure that the incident would not happen again.

“We will reiterate the responsibilities and accountabilities of each sector,” he said. INQ

lzb