ABOUT 26 persons, including four crew members, were rescued by the Coast Guard after their motor banca experienced engine trouble in the waters off Danao City, northern Cebu, last Sunday.
In a phone interview, Cebu Coast Guard Commander Rolando Punzalan said the GDS motorbanca left Camotes Island at 11 a.m. last Sunday and experienced engine trouble 25 minutes later.
Punzalan said the motorbanca was supposed to reach the Danao City port at 2 p.m. He said they are still investigating the cause of the motorbanca engine trouble.
Punzalan said a boat from the Danao City Coast Guard Rescue Team towed the motorbanca to the Danao City Port and they arrived at 3:55 p.m. He said one of the passengers, lawyer-columnist Frank Malilong, called for assistance.
The other passengers were Dr. Alma Malilong, 59; lawyer Alex Monteclar, 55; Ben Sun, 69; Era Acosta, 45; William Acosta, 45; Alex Ong, 54; Julian Tan, 59; Lolong Alfar, 68; Allan Ting, 36; Charles Acosta, 17; Hannah Acosta, 18; Weng Cerojano, 50; Engr. Danny Llenes, 62; Bernadette Ting, 40; Dr. Victor Besas, 28; Dra. Jessamin Fermentera, 29; Dr. Melanie Sabinay, 32; Dra. Teresita Rodriguez, 52; Dr. Danio Garcia, 54; Domiciano Geraldizo, 63; and SPO2 Francisco Parilla, 40.
The four rescued crew members were Efren Baragoya, 35, the boat captain; Pablo Bulodo, 40, the boat engineer and crew members Rannel Mansalay and William Adlawan. Reporter Rhea Ruth V. Rosell