8 rescued as motor banca stalls off Cebu

At least eight passengers of a motor banca were rescued after their vessel stalled off Cebu Wednesday night. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in a report on its website Thursday, said the banca had three crew members and five passengers. The report said initial investigation showed the boat departed Talibon port in Bohol at 6 p.m. Wednesday, bound for Cebu. It encountered engine trouble at about 8:30 p.m., while passing between Cabulan and Nalusuan Islands near the Hilutangan Channel. PCG vessel DF-318 with Special Operations Group divers was dispatched to the area while a search-and-rescue vessel was alerted for possible dispatch, the report said. The Coast Guard SOG team rescued all eight passengers of the banca, which was towed to Pasil in Cebu City before dawn Thursday. Meanwhile, a dzBB report said a passenger managed to send distressed text messages while the boat was drifting in the sea for hours. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV