19 persons missing as fishing boat capsizes off Masbate

NAGA CITY — Elements of the Philippine Coast Guard in Bicol are still scouring the portion of the Sibuyan Sea off Masbate province to search for 19 persons who went missing at sea when the fishing boat they were riding capsized  early on Tuesday.

Captain Tranquilino Paiton, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard in Bicol, said that F/B Hope Christy was en route to the town of Mandaon in Masbate from Roxas City in the province of Capiz when it capsized in between Sibuyan Island and Masbate  due to rough seas brought by Tropical Storm “Juaning”.

“The fishing boat has 32 passengers. As of now, we are able to rescue only 13 persons in the seas off Mandaon,” said Paiton late Wednesday.

He said search and rescue operations were suspended Wednesday night because of zero visibility in the sea.