8 die in Laguna Lake birthday picnic tragedy

BINANGONAN, Rizal – A birthday picnic by the lake here turned tragic when the outrigger boat 13 people were aboard capsized as they were heading back home from a nipa hut in the middle of the Laguna Lake where the lunch gathering was held, killing eight of them Sunday afternoon.

Binangonan Police identified the fatalities as RullinoParreño, 43; JaiannahJesine, Parreño, 2; Frederic Orteza, 39; WeldyOrteza, 42; Sean Wilfred Orteza, 9; Dimareth Mendoza, all residents of Taguig City; and MalouCandol, 39; and Mary Lou Papa, 44, both of Floodway, Cainta, Rizal.

The five survivors, including

the boat operator, who were rushed to Margarito Duavit Hospital-Rizal Provincial Hospital were initially identified as Grace Parenno, Merlita Hominez, Gerson Decreto, 10-year-old Joash Parreno, and seven-year-old Maxine Orteza.

Police said the victims were aboard the private boat made of fiberglass with a single outrigger when it tilted to its side and sank between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Sunday shortly after they left the nipa hut in Sitio Wawa, Barangay Libis, Laguna Lake.

Jun Hernandez, chief of the Binangonan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, told Manila Bulletin that personnel of Philippine Coast Guard, local boatmen, and the local government rescuers assisted each other in retrieving the victims underwater until all the victims were accounted for at around 6 p.m. Sunday.

Hernandez said local rescuers reported that the youngest fatality was found with her hands still clinging to a woman fatality. None of the victims, including the survivors, had life vests when they were found by rescuers.

Police said they were still awaiting the official investigation report of the Philippine Coast Guard on the incident. (With a report from Francis T. Wakefield)