Lt. Commander Agapito Bibat, head of the Philippine Coast Guard Station in Dumaguete City, debunked published news reports yesterday that a motorized outrigger boat carrying relief goods for quake victims in Guihulngan and other parts of Negros Oriental had capsized at the Tañon Strait Saturday.

Bibat said the 82-foot motorboat, ferrying about 80 crew members, passengers and rescue workers and volunteers en route to La Libertad in Negros Oriental, sent out a distress call after its outrigger broke off due to big waves spawned by a low pressure area.

But, he said, the motorboat did not sink nor capsize, contrary to a report published by a national daily, and was still afloat during the rescue operations and reached dry land.

Initial investigation by the Dumaguete Coast Guard Station showed that the motorboat had left the town of Ronda in Cebu shortly after 1 p.m. Friday and sent out an S.O.S. around 2:15 p.m. after its outrigger was destroyed.

The Coast Guard’s search-and-rescue vessel (SARV-003) BRP Pampanga, that was docked at the Bulado port in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental was immediately dispatched to the distressed vessel, Bibat said. Also, two Philippine Air Force UH-1H helicopter gunships were deployed from the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental to respond to the call for help.

Further investigation showed that two smaller sea vessels came to the rescue and towed the motor banca, skippered by Capt. Jovito Iyak, to Cantupa in La Libertad.

The people on board the motor banca were safe and sound, although Bibat said that as soon as the boats reached shore, they immediately left, so it was difficult for the Coast Guard to make an accurate record of who were the passengers.

The motor banca operator that had no registration papers, was identified as Romeo Alipan of Larena, Guihulngan.

Bibat said the motor boat reportedly defied a Coast Guard warning against traveling Friday of small vessels because of the low pressure area affecting parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.*JFP

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