CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Two died from drowning and another two remained missing off the shores of Dingalan, Aurora after their boat was overturned by strong waves and rain over the weekend, a belated report reaching Office of Civil Defense (OCD) here said.
Elson Egargue of the Aurora Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (APDRRMO) said passenger boat M/B Mikee Rose, boarded by 13 persons, eventually capsized amid bad weather off the coast of Barangay Dikapanikian in Dingalan last Saturday morning. .
The boat picked up passengers from Palanan, Isabela and was on its way to Dingalan, Aurora when it was pummelled by strong waves and rain.
Dingalan police chief Inspector Ferdinand Usita identified the drowning victims as Alejandro Abalos, 50, and Kim Manuel, 20, both residents of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Usita said his cops, together with the Philippine Coast Guard, held search operations for two others identified as sisters Elenita at Suzette Abalos.
The others survived and were plucked out from the sea by the rescuers. The rescued passengers were identified as Leila Abalos, Policarpio Aguilar and, Lodylyn Diamante while the boat crew were Rodolfo Plata, Reynald Montane, Wilbren Marquez, at Jun-Jun Ramirez, all of Palanan, Isabela and Rodsep Rosaldo and Rodel Morilla, both of Quezon province.
