CEBU CITY – A boatman died and 20 passengers were rescued in accidents in the sea of Panglao, Bohol on Thursday, September 12.
The series of unfortunate incidents happened shortly before noon in Cat Island, according to Ensign Abel Lomboy, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas.
In the first incident, three motor bancas, RBCA Margie 2, RBCA Plaza 2, and RBCA Leah Mae, capsized due to “sudden occurrence of severe weather and sea conditions.”
Personnel of Coast Guard-Panglao successfully rescued the passengers of the three boats.
Later on, 62-year-old MB Memar Nico boatman Lito Vistal drowned after his banca was battered by big waves that caused it to submerge.
The banca was half-submerged when the body of Vistal was recovered around 2 p.m., Lomboy said.