About 30 people died this Thursday afternoon after a passenger boat capsized in Laguna de Bay near Talim Island in Binangonan, Rizal.
According to the initial information of the Philippine Coast Guard Sub-Station Binangonan, at around 1 pm when the MBCA Princess Aya capsized, it was 30 yards away from Talim Island in Barangay Kalinawan in the town of Binangonan.
It is said that the boat was hit by a strong wind causing the passengers on board to panic and go to the left side of the boat, causing it to break its keel and capsize.
“They went to the port side of the motorbanca, causing it to capsize,” according to the PCG.
About 21 bodies were initially recovered, while 6 are still missing. Thirty were rescued.
PCG Spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said they are now focused on the retrieval operation and expect to increase the number of recovered bodies.
One of the observed causes of boat sinking is overloading. According to the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRMMO), only 22 are listed on the boat’s manifest.
Relatives of those who died in capsized boat in Rizal demand justice
It is said that there is no storm signal in the town of Binangonan, and the wave is no longer strong, so boats crossing from the Port of Pritil in the town of Binangonan to Talim Island are allowed to sail.
Meanwhile, some relatives of the victims are crying out for justice, believing that someone was negligent, so what should have been a peaceful trip ended up in an accident.
One of the casualties was 18-year-old Erika Lavapie, who was going home to her family.
His sister, Eloisa, still remembered their last conversations.
“Overloaded yung bangka. Nasaan ang Coast Guard? Dun sa mga papel na sinusulat nila ang pangalan, dapat nandon lahat, nasaan yung pangalan nung ibang namatay, bakit wala sa listahan nila? Kasi nga ayaw nilang palabasin na overloaded yung bangka. Kaya hihingi kami ng hustisya kung saan man kami makarating,” said Eloisa.
The story of survivor John Mark Delos Reyes matches the authorities’ report, but he admitted they were not wearing life vests.
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