13 survive Cagayan sea; swim to shore with vests

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Were it not for their life vests, they would have lost their lives like many others in the turbulent waters of northernmost Cagayan.

Miraculously, all 13 passengers of a twin-engine boat that capsized off the Cagayan coast April 26 survived the huge waves and strong winds before they were rescued.

Chief Supt. Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police director, said the 13 were all accounted for in Palloc, Ballesteros town.

He identified 12 of them as Rowena Reyes, Franciso Maclet, Harlie Aguinaldo, Edadberto Aguinaldo, Pocholo Reyes, Romeo Remalante, Rebecca Lusterio, Kristian Barcelon, Rizalino Pinlac, Paul Frederik Reyes, Cornelio Guisdan, and Freddie Simon.

Eight of them are students and teachers of Letran College, two are contractors of Smart Communications, and the rest, crewmen of the ill-fated boat.

The group had just conducted a medical mission in Aparri town’s Camiguin Island when huge waves struck their boat while on their way back to the mainland.

The passengers were recovering from their ordeal at the Catholic-run Lyceum of Aparri, which reportedly co-hosted the mission.

Authorities said the group was stranded in Camiguin for almost three days due to the inclement weather until they decided to take off last Sunday with signs of improved weather. But their wooden-hulled banca did not survive the huge waves.

Fortunately, all 13 passengers were wearing life vests that enabled them to float and swim ashore until fishermen and authorities from nearby Ballesteros town came to their rescue. -- CL