ILOILO City – A motorboat bound for the island municipality of Caluya, Antique capsized at around 11:20 a.m. yesterday.
Two policemen and two personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were injured and hospitalized – Police Staff Sergeant Albert Francisco and Patrolman Allan Sabano both of the Caluya police station, and Police Officers 3 Kim Dayalo and Jerald Ligan of PCG-Antique.
As this was being written, one policeman was still missing. The Caluya police declined to name this cop while the search and rescue operation by the coastguard was ongoing.
The motorboat capsized in the waters of Sibolo Island, one of the small islands comprising Caluya.
According to Police Corporal Jirus Paloma of the Caluya police station, the rough seas were too much for the motorboat.
The policemen onboard the boat were securing Caluya mayor Rigil Kent Lim who was scheduled to deliver relief goods to families in Caluya.
Lim was in a separate and bigger boat loaded with relief goods. He was safe.
“Tama kabalud. Baskog current sang tubig. We are hoping ma-rescue naton ang aton tawo,” said Paloma.
Caluya consists of three major islands (Semirara, Caluya and Sibay) as well as several minor islets, namely, Liwagao, Nagubat, Panagatan, Sibato and Sibolo all located in the Tablas Strait between Mindoro and Panay islands.
This island municipality can be reached in approximately five5 hours pump boat ride from Lipata, Culasi, Antique or three hours from Libertad, Antique./PN
