By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Nine persons were rescued last Saturday after their motorized pump boat capsized in the waters between Ajuy, Iloilo, and Manapla, Negros Occidental last Friday.
Chief Petty Officer James Comeros, sub-station commander of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Victorias, said the victims were sighted by some fishermen floating in the waters of Barangays Tomongtong and Gahit in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental around 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 4.
Comeros said the victims left Ajuy, Iloilo around 2 p.m. on Feb. 3.
Two of them were reportedly instructed by their employer to accompany their seven co-workers who will be going home to Manapla town. But rough seas capsized their boat.
Comeros said the victims should have advised the authorities regarding their travel so that they can prevent any untoward incident such as what happened.
The victims have been floating at the sea for about 20 hours. But Comeros said they were all conscious and unharmed.
After they were checked by rescuers, the seven Manapla residents went home and the two others from Iloilo were also sent home via a roll-on roll-off (Roro) vessel.
