Camotes-bound motor boat overcomes mid-sea ordeal

At least 90 Camotes-bound passengers got into a threatening two-hour ordeal at mid-sea yesterday when the outrigger and rudder of their motorized banca broke as rough waters kept on pounding the banca to almost capsize it.

Pilar Police station chief Danilo Delantar, who was among the passengers, said the banca, M/B Junmar II owned by Mario Pagalan, left the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City at about 5am and they were supposed to arrive at Pilar at around 8 a.m.

Midway of the voyage, or about 20 kilometers between Danao City and San Francisco, the boat’s rudder broke prompting its crew to stall the trip to fix the cable of the boat’s steering part.

While they were at it, however, the outrigger suddenly broke loose from the incessant pounding of the big waves. “Nangatangtang ang katig tungod sa dagkong bawod unya nahigot ra hinuon dayon,” Delantar told The Freeman.

Two Pilar policemen, PO1s Avelarde Biton and Ritchie Camello, who were also on board, immediately contacted their police station to notify that they were on a boat mired in dangerous situation. The police station in turn coordinated with the office of the mayor in Pilar, which then alerted the Coast Guard.

For almost two hours and with the rescue not yet coming, the crew worked hard and fast to fix the rudder and restore the outrigger while the limping boat swayed to the rough seas and winds.

Finally, the boat was restored and resumed its voyage, reaching safely the Kawit wharf in Pilar by about 10 a.m. and all the passengers got home safely.

Although the boat was two hours late, Delantar said they were thankful that no one was hurt and injured in the ordeal.   — Fred P. Languido and Garry B. Lao/RAE