BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – A motor banca capsized off the coasts of barangays Tomongtong and Gahit in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, around 8 a.m. on Saturday. Nine people were rescued.
Of the nine, seven were residents of Manapla town; two were from Culasi, Ajuy, Iloilo.
Philippine Coast Guard – Northern Negros Occidental deputy station commander for administration Ensign Realisa Amper said the motor banca left Ajuy for Manapla on Thursday, Feb. 2.
However, upon reaching the waters of Manapla around 2 p.m., the boat was battered by strong waves.
The passengers drifted to E.B. Magalona.
Amper said no one was hurt in the incident but they were conducting an investigation to find out if the motor banca was authorized to ferry passengers between Ajuy and Manapla./PN