16 rescued from capsized boat off Zamboanga City

Sixteen persons were rescued Friday morning, July 19 from the waters of Tumalutab Island, Zamboanga City. Fourteen of the 16 are city hall employees and two members of the Zamboanga City Police Office. Photo contributed by 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Fourteen local government employees and two police officers were hauled to safety on Friday morning, July 19, after the boat they were on capsized off Tumalutab Island, some 40 kilometers away from the mainland.

Jomer Abunawas, village chief of Tumalutab, said they received reports that a speedboat capsized midsea as “the water got into the vessel.”

Abunawas said all the 16 persons on board were safe but a number of them were brought to a hospital due to minor injuries.

In a statement issued by the communication team of Zamboanga City Hall, a team of government employees and police officers was heading for Tumalutab around 9:30 a.m. Friday to conduct an assessment and evaluation of the island barangays in relation to the Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays (SGLGB).

Vic Larato, one of the communications team members, said the boat failed to land on the shore as it was low tide at the time, thus the passengers had to transfer to a smaller boat that would ferry them to the Tumalutab port.

Sixteen persons were rescued Friday morning, July 19 from the waters of Tumalutab Island, Zamboanga City. Fourteen of the 16 are city hall employees and two members of the Zamboanga City Police Office. Photo contributed by 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company

Unfortunately, the speedboat tilted to its side and subsequently capsized. The passengers were immediately rescued by local fishermen nearby.

Rescued Major Roland Arriola Jr., PMSgt. Reagan Gregorio, Angelique Catis, Airreen Atilano, Rolan Bantoto, Cristy Del Rosario, Arnold Amrille, Karen Boniao, Airizza Flores, Albert Ebol, Ma. Lahksmi Loon, Nikka Enopia, Calve Dela Gracia, Deolito Baldiza, Angie Centillas and Patricia Ann Soria.

READ: 1 dead, 4 rescued as fishing boat capsizes off Zamboanga City

After they were rescued by the Tumalutab fishermen, the responding team from the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company (ZCMFC-seaborne) secured them and brought them to the 2nd ZCMFC headquarters in Baliwasan village where they were subjected to medical assessment by the emergency response team from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The city offices included in the team are the City Planning and Development Office, City Administrator’s Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Office of City Environment and Natural Resources, City Health Office, City Human Resource and Management Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Treasurer’s Office, City Accountant’s Office, Barangay Affairs Division and Business Permits and Licensing Division under the Office of the City Mayor.