Navy spokesman, Commander Geronimo Malabanan, said all the passengers were successfully accounted with no injuries. Malabanan said the accident occurred during the annual Sinulog Fluvial Festival parade near the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City on Jan. 18.
The Sinulog celebration has been drawing thousands of devotees, including local and foreign tourists, to the child Jesus, the patron saint of Cebuanos.
According to Navy Capt. Constancio Jardiniano, Naval Forces Central commander, their attention was called by a bystander who alerted them of an overloaded banca which capsized.
Jardiniano said SWAG units immediately rushed to the scene and managed to retrieve the victims from the capsized banca to safety on board a civilian boat M/B Maricris. — Jaime Laude