The Rizal provincial government said on Friday, July 28, that it will provide aid to the victims and families of the ill-fated motor banca that capsized in Laguna Lake in Barangay Kalinawan, Binangonan, Rizal on Thursday, July 28, during the onslaught of Typhoon Egay. Recue and retrieval operations continue
Rizal Governor Nina Ynares said that 27 people were killed while 40 others were rescued after M/B Aya Express overturned after it was hit by strong winds and waves while traversing the lake. "Patuloy ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa Pamahalaang Bayan ng Binangonan para masigurong maibigay ang mga kakailanganing tulong at suporta ng mga biktima at ng kanilang pamilya (We are continuously coordinating with the municipal government of Binangonan to ensure that aid will be provided to the victims and their families)," Ynares said. She also expressed her gratitude to the brave responders from different towns in Rizal who helped in bringing the victims to RPHS Binangonan and Morong for immediate medical attention. "Sa pagpapatuloy ng search and retrieval operations ngayong araw kasama ang Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at mga volunteers, isama nawa natin sa panalangin ang kaligtasan ng lahat ng mga rescue teams. Gayundin ang pag-asa na mahanap pa ang iba pa nating kababayan (With the resumption of search and retrieval operations today together with the Philippine Coast Guard and volunteers, let's include their safety and the successful rescue of our countrymen to our prayers)," the mayor stressed. Barangay Kalinawan Chairman Virgilio Cerda said that search and retrieval operations were temporarily called off at 7 p.m. last night since darkness would prevent them from safely proceeding with the operations. In a TV interview, two survivors said that other passengers panicked when the boat lurched violently after it was hit by strong winds and waves. Meanwhile, the captain of the boat, identified as Donald Añain, who is now in the custody of the authorities, said that he was not aware that the boat was overloaded and asked for forgiveness from the victims. "Sana po mapatawad po nila ako sa trahedya po na nangyari, hindi ko naman po ginusto 'yun. Sana po mapatawad nila ako (I am asking for forgiveness to the victims of the tragedy, it was not my intention for it to happen. I hope they could forgive me)," Añain said. "Bigla po may sigwada ng hangin, unos po kung tawagin, hindi ko na po mapigilan yung pagtagilid ng bangka (There was a sudden gust of wind that we call unos. I could not prevent the overturning of the boat)," he explained. He pinned the blame for the overloading on his crew for allowing more passengers into the boat which exceeded its maximum passenger capacity. "Magpapa-manifest po ako 'nun, sabi ko po hindi ako magsasakay ng madami. Hindi ko po alam, habang naglalakad ako papuntang coast guard may sumasakay pa po ng sumasakay (I was supposed to do a manifest and I said I would not allow more passengers to get into the boat. I didn't know how it happened but but while I was walking towards the coast guard office, I could see more passengers being loaded)," Añain stressed.