57 passengers, crew rescued from capsized boat

CAMARINES NORTE, Philippines – At least 57 passengers and crew of a motorboat that capsized off Masbate were rescued near Animasola Islet in San Pascual, Masbate early Sunday, authorities said yesterday.

M/V Jonalyn, with five crewmembers and 52 passengers and carrying around 200 sacks of copra capsized in rough seas, according to the results of an investigation by San Pascual police.

Local policemen led by Inspector Jigson Maddatu and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel led by Police Officer 2 Celedonio Nadal rescued the passengers and brought them to the San Pascual health unit.

Meanwhile, six fishermen drifting at sea were rescued off Iloilo province on Saturday and Sunday.

The rescued fishermen, residents of Placer town in Masbate, went fishing on Jan. 1, despite gale warnings, according to reports from the PCG in Iloilo.

Pascual Yordan Roque, 60, and his son, 18-year-old Jesson, were rescued at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The two allegedly drifted after they ran out of gasoline.

Around 2 p.m., Edgar Amores, 32, and Vilia Morgan, 31, both residents of Barangay Nauco, were rescued in Barangay Asluman North Gigantes in Carles town.

Radio reports said Gale Mahusay, 40, and JR Cabatingan, 51, also of Barangay Nauco, were rescued in Barangay Lantangan Sunday.