CEBU CITY –
Stephen Pagcaliwagan, information officer of the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas , said 24 residents of Barangay Manipis, Talisay City, Cebu on their way to a birth anniversary party in Calape town, Bohol province were about to transfer to another boat when the banca sunk at around 7 p.m. Pantaleon Busquit of the San Fernando Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said strong waves may have hit the boat which came from San Fernando and capsized.
Rescue operations were immediately conducted when the incident was reported to the PCG-7. Among the rescued individuals were a one-month-old baby and nine other minors aged one to 17. Pagcaliwagan said investigation was under way to determine if the boat was registered or authorized to ferry passengers.