CG says it tried to help stranded motor banca

The Philippine Coastguard yesterday denied a report that it ignored calls for help from a motorized banca that was stranded for seven hours in Hilutungan Island, Lapu-Lapu City last Sunday afternoon.

Philippine Coastguard Cebu command duty officer Martin Bernabe said the call took long in reaching them and they only received the information around 8:50 p.m. Sunday.

The M/B Rocky Boy 3 was carrying 20 passengers including four children from Buenavista, Bohol.

Wilfredo Anora, who hired the motorized banca for a Holy Week vacation in Bohol, said the banca experienced a motor oil leakage near Panga-an Island around 1:33 p.m. Sunday.

This prompted the ship crew to stop its engine.

“Ang problema kay pagka-alas 3 sa hapon naabtan mi sa pag hunas (low tide) maoy nga nasangan ang banca diha na dapit sa Hilutungan island” Anora said.

The ship crew had to wait for high tide for them to continue their trip.  They also bought three liters of motor oil in Hilutungan Island.

“Swerte lang nga linaw kayo ang dagat, na problema lang mi sa pagkaon sa mga bata,” Anora said.

He added that they contacted the Coast Guard as soon as they were in trouble through text messages. Anora added that they were assured that the Coast Guard will rescue them but after several hours no one had come for them.

Bernabe explained that they aborted the rescue operation after the motorized banca was able to leave on its own for Mactan Island and arrived past 10 p.m. Sunday. — Ramil V. Ayuman/BRP