SURVIVOR. Arnel Belleca (center, in black and green shirt), one of the 10 survivors of two motor bancas that capsized while en route to Caluya Island, Antique from Boracay Island in Aklan, reunites with his family in Romblon on Thursday (Aug. 29, 2024). Rescue operations continue for seven missing passengers. (Photo from San Jose, Romblon Public Information Office)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Rescue operations continue for the seven missing passengers of two motor bancas that sank off the coast of Caluya municipality in Antique province on Aug. 26.
The official report released by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) 6 (Western Visayas) on Thursday identified those missing as Vic Florencio, Roel Dellero, Joseph Dellero, Frankie Gajero, Sauro Dellero, and Zaldy Pases, all from Bicol, and Christian Aguilar from Taguig.
The Philippine Coast Guard - Antique, in an interview, said the two motor bancas with a total of 20 passengers, capsized while en route to Caluya island after departing Boracay Island in Aklan province on Aug. 26, due to heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon.
Three people died in the incident, 10 were rescued, and seven remain missing.
The casualties, based on the OCD report, were Christopher Gajero, Marlon Belleca, and Mark Dellero, all residents of Bicol.
Coast Guard Station - Antique Chief Master at Arms Jason Lezaran said an aerial search and rescue (SAR) operation was conducted by personnel of the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Caluya’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), and Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday but to no avail.
“We are still hopeful, though, that we could find the missing passengers of the motor bancas,” Lezaran said.
In a separate interview, Antique DRRMO chief Broderick Train said the 10 passengers were rescued immediately after two of them managed to swim to nearby Carabao Island in San Jose, Romblon and informed the DRRMO about the incident.
Rescued were boat captain Alvin Salodes, 30; Jarenz Bernal, 16, and Luisa Ojana, 47, all from Caluya; Rhea De Vera, 25, of San Jose Occidental Mindoro; Joseph Tereliyos, 28, Silang Cavite; Frederick Lompero, 34, of Libmanan, Bicol; all aboard a blue and white but still unidentified motor boat.
Also rescued were boat captain Jonald Patricio, 33, and crew Garry Patricio, 43, both from Caluya; Arnold Tereliyas, 35, of Silang Cavite; and Arnel Belleca, 55, of Bankal, Davao City, who were on the other motor boat.
Train said that the SAR operation for the missing passengers continues while those rescued would be transported back to their provinces. (PNA)
