10 persons rescued as boat sinks off Dinagat Islands

BUTUAN CITY – Ten persons were rescued after a motorboat sank in waters off Cab-ilan, Dinagat town, Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI), a belated report reaching the regional police headquarters here Friday morning.

All the passengers of the private motor boat, identified as Graciano G. Limpuasan, 63; Edna A. Limpuasan, 64; Ailyn L. Miole, 38; Chad L.Miole, 10; Carl L. Miole, 9; Ailyn Nicole L. Miole, 6; Marites D. Selades, 49; Manly M. Surigao, 35; Margel M. Surigao, 30; and Ance S. Ebuña, 39, all residents of Barangay Arellano, Libjo, Dinagat Islands, were rescued and immediately brought to the Dinagat Regional Health Unit for medical examination.

They were subsequently turned over to Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) for proper disposition, a field report said.

A flash report received at Caraga Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) headquarters based at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez here stated that the M/B Motor Banca Ai-Ai left the Surigao City Port around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday when it encountered mechanical defect due to bad weather condition.

“The said motor banca was traversing from Surigao City bound for Libjo, Dinagat Islands, but upon reaching at the seawater of Cab-ilan of Dinagat town of that same province the aforesaid motor banca encountered mechanical defects due to inclement weather condition and southwest monsoon that destroyed the astern part of said motor boat,” the initial report received at PRO 13 regional headquarters here also stated.

Joint elements of Dinagat Municipal Police Station, together with the Dinagat Search and Rescue Team (MODSART), Dinagat Philippine CoastGuard Station based in the town of San Jose immediately conducted a rescue operation upon learning of the incident.

Responding personnel successfully rescued all the passengers and crew of the M/B Ai-Ai, Dinagat Islands Provincial Police Office report added.