5 killed, 19 survive as overloaded banca sinks off Capiz waters
Tragedy struck a family in Pontevedra, Capiz after a small banca overloaded twice its capacity sunk off Palongpong Bay.
Five were killed including a five year-old boy as nineteen others survived. The victims, all residents of Barangay Binontocan, Pontevedra were out to attend a fiesta celebration. The group then took the banca owned by two of the survivors, couple Jerry and Jocelyn Romualdo when minutes thereafter and in the middle of Palongpong Bay, the banca gave in to too much weight and capsized.
Authorities identified the fatalities as 16 year-old Renalyn Gamallo-Fuentes, 5 year-old Rey Jun Fuentes, Reymart Degala, Mariel Tupas and Violeta Fuentes.
Investigation conducted by the local Coast Guard and members of the Pontevedra Police disclosed accounts of survivors where all similarly said panic set in seconds after the banca rocked unsteadily. Each on board scrambled to get hold of a fellow family member with the Romualdo couple able to secure their four year-old son.
Help came too late for the five as the nineteen others who survived struggled to stay afloat.
It was not immediately clear if charges will be filed against the banca owners.