PCG: An unregistered boat owned by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) submerged in Surigao City after a sudden squall battered it until sea-water seeped into its engine compartment. 

No one was hurt during the incident.

The boat was moored on the starboard side of M/Bca JSV-6 at Pantalan II, Boulevard, Barangay Taft, Surigao City when the 30-minute squall occurred. 

The sunken boat was owned and operated by DPWH-San Jose in Dinagat Islands and was skippered by Elmer Bacus with three crew members Joseph Paymalan Allan Ebuna and Alberto Campugan. 

Bacus reported that they were supposed to take shelter in Punta Bilang-bilang in Brgy. Taft due to the weather disturbance but rough seas battered their boat until it submerged.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Station (CGS) Surigao coordinated with the owner of another motor boat to tow the submerged vessel of the DPWH to Punta Bilang-Bilang, Surigao City.