Deadly sea mishap sends shock waves through Iloilo, Guimaras
ILOILO CITY— Residents of this city and nearby Guimaras island are reeling over the deadly sea mishap which occurred at Iloilo Strait last Sunday. “I now realize why my mom would be so mad every time I go home when the weather is bad,” said Steve Cordero. Cordero is a resident of Guimaras but commutes by ferry back and forth Guimaras and Iloilo City where he works for a national government agency.
Ironically, the October 18 deadly incident happened when Iloilo City and Guimaras province were not under any storm signal despite typhoon “Lando” bashing the northern part of the country.
Lt. Edison Diaz, acting chief of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG-Iloilo), said that the weather was calm before motorized boat M/B Tawash sailed off from Ortiz Wharf in Iloilo City on its way to Jordan Wharf in Jordan town, Guimaras.
However, the boat carrying 41 passengers and crew members encountered what locals call pugada (squall), which is characterized by sudden strong winds and rain.
The so-called pugada caused big waves, capsizing the boat.
The eight casualties were identified as Larry Abilla, Mary Ann Gallego, CJ Gamotia, Ruben Gania, Cora Ganila, Luke Mata, Mark Mata, and Christine Vasquez. Two of the casualties are crew members and two are children.
Six passengers — Chris John Cepada, Armando Gallego, John Benedict Gallego, Jomer Pollentes, Felicito Sabada III, and Cherry Silverio – were sent to the hospital for treatment. A child, identified as CJ Gamotea was found in Brgy. Tacay, Buenavista, Guimaras, but his mother, Shine Mata is still missing.
Under normal circumstances, the boat ride between Iloilo City and Guimaras only takes 12-15 minutes.
While there have been several maritime incidents on the Iloilo Strait, this was the first time that several people died in one incident alone.
Meanwhile, Commodore Leopoldo Laroya, Philippine Coast Guard commander for the Western Visayas region, has ordered an investigation on what caused the mishap.
For his part, Guimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin said the marine inquiry will be conducted in coordination with the PCG, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Board of Marine Inquiry.
Gumarin said the inquiry will determine why the pumpboat was carrying 41 passengers, with eight persons not listed in the passenger’s manifesto.
It will also probe what transpired during the tragic accident and check if there were lapses committed.
The incident has revived the perennial issue of why passengers are not required to wear life vests, and travel policies when there are weather disturbances, among others.
“This will not bring back the lives of those who died, but we must find ways on how to prevent these incidents,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Guimaras provincial government has shouldered all hospital expenses of the victims. It will also provide burial assistance to families of those who died.
Gumarin went to Iloilo City last Sunday evening to check on the needs of victims who were brought to different hospitals.
“The province paid for hospital expenses and coordinated funeral arrangements with families,” he said.
Gumarin described the mishap as the “worst sea accident that happened in Guimaras.” (With a report from PNA).