FOUR people were safely pulled to safety after their motorbanca sank in the waters lying between President Carlos P. Garcia town in Bohol and Barangay Guadalupe in Maasin City, Southern Leyte. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed the successful rescue operation in a statement released on Saturday, noting that authorities acted swiftly following reports of vessels in distress in the area.
According to the agency, rescue teams were immediately dispatched to conduct search and rescue operations after receiving the report on Friday. Upon arriving at the location, responders discovered not just one but two motorbancas already submerged in the water. The PCG team quickly moved to secure those on board, transferring four individuals onto a rescue vessel operated by the local government unit, while the remaining three passengers were carefully escorted and brought safely to the shoreline of Barangay Tilmobo.
All those who were rescued are senior citizens, and they were later handed over to the care of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Pitogo town. Authorities said the local agency will oversee their proper handling, including providing necessary assistance, medical attention if required, and ensuring their welfare and safe return to their families. The PCG has yet to release details regarding the cause of the incident, though standard assessments are expected to be conducted to determine what led to the vessels being submerged.
