4 drown as boat sinks off Isabela

TUGUEGARAO CITY – Four persons died when a motorboat carrying 58 passengers capsized during the onslaught of Typhoon Gorio in Palanan, Isabela on Friday, officials said yesterday.

The bodies of Mylene Silva, Joel Tuppil and Dimasalang Valenzuela were retrieved on Saturday, while Ronald Silva was found yesterday, according to Isabela police director Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Garcia.

The victims were mem- bers of the Society of Communicators and Networkers of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Palanan police chief Senior Inspector Mariano Manalo said the victims were in M/B Jamil on their way to Dilasag, Aurora from the Kulasi port in Palanan when the boat was hit by strong waves and winds spawned by Gorio.

Manalo said it took three hours before the first rescue team reached the site where the boat sank.

Fishermen helped rescue the victims who were on their way home from a church activity in Palanan.