At 7:15PM of Dec. 1, 2019, a certain Jennelyn Azarcon a resident of Brgy Canlanipa, Surigao City informed this station thru a phone call that a motorized pumpboat marked with “MARLIE” with two (2) individuals on board (operator and passenger) sunk at vicinity waters off Rasa Island, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
Immediately, this Station made coordination to MCS 3005 for the conduct of joint search and rescue operation. On or about 7:25PM Dec.1, 2019, QRT onboard AB-249 and BFAR MCS 3005 proceeded to reported area of incident to conduct SAR OPN to the subject reported pumpboat.
On or about 7:30PM Dec.1, 2019, prior departure, the QRT received a phone call from the informant that the distressed mbca has already been rescued by another motorized pumpboat owned by Ivy Alvarez a relative of the persons on board distressed mbca x According to the informant, the persons on board were already safe and secured at Brgy Nonoc, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
However, on or about 8:00PM of Dec.1, 2019, a certain Alice Pontevedra appeared to this station informing that the pumpboat of her brothers sunk at vicinity waters off rasa island, Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte.
Initial inquiries revealed that the first reported pumpboat involving in the maritime incident and her report was the same. Consequently, the pumpboat that rescued the distressed pumpboat was also in distress at the same vicinity.
8:05PM Dec.1, 2019, QRT of CGS Surigao Del Norte onboard AB-249 together with MCS 3005 immediately proceeded to the said vicinity to conduct SAR operation to the distressed pumpboats.
On or about 8:55PM Dec. 1, 2019, the PCG teams sighted five (5) individuals floating in the seawater while holding to the outrigger of the pumpboat approximately 2.1 NM Northeast of Surigao Baseport.
Instantly, CGS SDN QRT on board AB-249 threw a life ring and gathered all the victims from the seawater. Afterwards, the victims were transferred to MCS 3005 for initial assessment and medical intervention.
10:00PM of Dec.1, 2019, MCS 3005 and AB-249 together with the survivors safely arrived at Surigao Baseport.
10:05PM of same date, Emergency Response Services arrived at the Surigao Baseport and subsequently, personnel of CGS SDN rendered assistance in the disembarkation of the survivors and transfer to the ambulance of Surigao City Rescue.
At 10:08PM same date, the survivors were brought by Emergency Response Services to Caraga Regional Hospital for further medical attention and definitive care.
At about 10:15PM Dec 2019, the said PCG personnel returned to proper station without any untoward incident happened.
During the conduct of investigation, it was disclosed that on or about 2:30PM Dec. 1, 2019, the reported pumpboat MARLIE (unmarked/unnamed) departed from Brgy. Canlanipa, Surigao City bound for Sitio Buyho, Brgy. San Jose, Surigao City on board with two (2) individuals to return to their respective residences. While transiting at the vicinity waters near Rasa Island, the engine of the motorized pumpboat suddenly ignited resulted to the fire on board the pumpboat. The operator of the pumpboat decided to intentionally capsize the pumpboat to arrest the fire which prompted them to call their relative for assistance. On or about 6:00PM of same date, pumpboat marked with “IVYLYN” arrived at the vicinity to render assistance and conduct towing operation enroute to Sitio Buyho, Brgy. San Jose, Surigao City. On the course of towing operation pumpboat “IVYLYN” encountered huge continuous waves that battered their boat which resulted to subsequently overturn. Both pumpboats sunk while the victims remained afloat at the water holding to the outrigger of a pumpboat. Thru the efforts of the Philippine Coast Guard Quick Response Team and MCS 3005 personnel, the victims were successfully rescued on or about 9:18PM of Dec.1, 2019.
Hereunder are the list of survivors in connection with the sinking incident involving 2 motorized pumpboats;
- Rommel Ruaya, 29 years of age, a resident of Brgy. Canlanipa Surigao City
2. Leyjone Fijo, 25 years of age, a resident of Brgy. Canlanipa Surigao City
3. Ivy Alvarez, 30 years of age, a resident of Brgy. Canlanipa Surigao City
4. Losmar Pontevedra, 30 years of age, a resident of Sitio Buyho, Brgy. San Jose, Surigao City
5. Marlon Pontevedra, 19 years of age, a resident of Sitio Buyho, Brgy. San Jose, Surigao City
The survivors were in good physical health condition except for the minor light burns sustained by the two Pontevedra’s due to the explosion of their pumpboat’s engine. (Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte)
Na rescue ganina 9:55 sa buntag karong adlawa ang usa ka mangingisda didto sa baybayon sa Tigbao, Brgy. Balite, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte ang ginganlang MARVIN P. PABONITA, 32 anyos taga Brgy. Cuasi, San Francisco, Southern Leyte.
Sumala pa niya, siya nalunod kagahapon pa lamang Disyembre 1, 2019 alas 4 sa kahaponon tungod sa dagko na balod ug gihikot lamang niya iya kaugalingon sa kawayan na iyang ge abayan.
Dali me responde ang mga Lokal na Opisyales sa San Francisco (Anao-aon) sa pagpangulo ni Mayor Val P. Pinat ug nakig coordinate dayon kini sa mga opisyales sa sangay nga lungsod sa Southern Leyte. (From Mayor Val Pinat FB Post)