DOTC-PCG: Commodore William M Melad, Commander of Coast Guard District Central Visayas (CGDCV) commends Coast Guard Station (CGS) Cebu for retrieving a cadaver that was trapped beneath the motorbanca which sunk at the vicinity waters of Barangay Eastern Poblacion, Poro, Camotes due to Tropical Depression Basyang last January 31.

Said station received information from a certain Mr. Faustino of Barangay Eastern Poblacion, Poro, Camotes, that M/Bca Ave Maria 5 with 10 officers and crew onboard capsized at the said vicinity.

CGS Cebu immediately proceeded to the area to conduct search and rescue operations as needed.

Inquiry revealed that on January 31 at around 9:00 PM, the motorbanca departed Poro Port, Camotes and decided to take shelter at Barangay Can-insing, San Francisco due to Tropical Depression Basyang without informing Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Camotes.

While transiting the seawaters of said barangay, the crew encountered big waves and eventually their boat capsized. The boat's crew was able to disembark before it totally sank, however. The nine crew managed to swim to the shoreline but one went missing.

Personnel of CGSS Camotes together with the crew of the ill-fated motorbanca and civilian volunteers conducted search and rescue (SAR) operation for the missing crew at vicinity waters off said barangay.

Subsequently, the team retrieved the cadaver, identified as Danny Condag, from the sunken site on February 01 at 12:35 in the afternoon. His remains were properly turned over to PO2 David Sotto PNP, Investigating Officer of Poro, Camotes Police Station and was brought to Poro Camotes Funeral Parlor for proper disposition.

Presently, the ill-fated motorbanca iss till at the sunken site approximately 700 meters away from the shoreline of Brgy Poblacion, Poro, Camotes while some portion was detached and drifted to the shoreline. Further, no trace of oil slick or oil sheen was seen in the area.

Said station advised the boat's skipper to file a Marine Protest relative to the incident, and further advised to coordinate with the owner/operator for the containment and recovery of approximately 90 liters of fuel oil onboard and immediate salvaging of motorbanca.

Mbca Ave Maria 5 with 34.62 GT/23.84 NT is a passenger/cargo homeported in Cebu, owned and operated by Riza G. Borlaza and skippered by Riel Florentino.