By Martin Sadongdong
Authorities rescued a municipal mayor and eight others, including two actresses, and retrieved the body of a man who drowned when a boat capsized off the seawaters of Sebaste, Antique on Maundy Thursday, according to the Western Visayas Police Regional Office (PRO-6).
Antique Map (Grabbed from Google Maps | Manila Bulletin)
According to the PRO-6's Regional Tactical Operations Center (RTOC), elements of Sebaste Municipal Police Station and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) retrieved the body of the lone fatality identified as Bennie Dable, 50, a bodyguard of Pandan, Antique Municipal Mayor Jonathan Tan, 41, who survived the sea mishap. The two were among the ten passengers of the capsized speedboat.
Police also confirmed the rescue of beauty queen Bianca Manalo, former actress Ehra Madrigal and her husband Tom Yeung, 47; Mejel Tresche, 65; Torebeo Barrientos, 40; another woman and two minors. The rescued victims are within the circle of friends of Mayor Tan, police said.
Elements of Sebaste Municipal Police Station led by Senior Inspector Glen Jaromay responded to a report that a boat capsized about four to five kilometers away from the shoreline of Barangay Aras-asan. The accident happened around 10:50 a.m. but was only reported to authorities around 1:30 p.m., police added.
Jaromay said the group, led by Tan, was touring for a Holy Week break when the speedboat was met by strong waves and gusting winds. The group was reportedly on its way to the Mararison Island, a famous tourist spot in Culasi, Antique, and Dable was stirring the boat when the accident happened.
Jaromay said that Tan and Torebeo swam to the shore for two hours before they met a group of fishermen who helped them. The mayor then came back on a pumpboat to help his friends, he added.
Authorities managed to rescue the other survivors after hours of staying afloat, Jaromay added.
Jaromay said the rescued victims were given immediate medical treatment and probers have conducted a follow up investigation to determine whether the speedboat was overloaded when the accident happened.
Antique Map (Grabbed from Google Maps | Manila Bulletin)
According to the PRO-6's Regional Tactical Operations Center (RTOC), elements of Sebaste Municipal Police Station and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) retrieved the body of the lone fatality identified as Bennie Dable, 50, a bodyguard of Pandan, Antique Municipal Mayor Jonathan Tan, 41, who survived the sea mishap. The two were among the ten passengers of the capsized speedboat.
Police also confirmed the rescue of beauty queen Bianca Manalo, former actress Ehra Madrigal and her husband Tom Yeung, 47; Mejel Tresche, 65; Torebeo Barrientos, 40; another woman and two minors. The rescued victims are within the circle of friends of Mayor Tan, police said.
Elements of Sebaste Municipal Police Station led by Senior Inspector Glen Jaromay responded to a report that a boat capsized about four to five kilometers away from the shoreline of Barangay Aras-asan. The accident happened around 10:50 a.m. but was only reported to authorities around 1:30 p.m., police added.
Jaromay said the group, led by Tan, was touring for a Holy Week break when the speedboat was met by strong waves and gusting winds. The group was reportedly on its way to the Mararison Island, a famous tourist spot in Culasi, Antique, and Dable was stirring the boat when the accident happened.
Jaromay said that Tan and Torebeo swam to the shore for two hours before they met a group of fishermen who helped them. The mayor then came back on a pumpboat to help his friends, he added.
Authorities managed to rescue the other survivors after hours of staying afloat, Jaromay added.
Jaromay said the rescued victims were given immediate medical treatment and probers have conducted a follow up investigation to determine whether the speedboat was overloaded when the accident happened.