At least 25 passengers and four crewmwmbers were rescued from a fishing boat that capsized after encountering big waves off Negros Oriental province on Tuesday. The vessel was heading for the famous dive destination Apo Island to attend the annual fiesta there, the news site Visayan Daily Star reported on Wednesday. Dumaguete Coast Guard commander Lt. Cmdr. Agapito Bibat said the fishing boat "Albert" skippered by Roselito Sangual. Aside from skipper Sangual, the 28 other passengers and crew who were rescued were identified as:
Alberto Aldenese Melchora Tuban Moises Baga Loreto Daymil Desideria Daymil Pondadera Aldenesel Efren Aldenese Warlito Samy Susan Mama Peter Aboyabor Jaja Cataylo Edie Toto Miguela Batayonon Rogelita Tuballa Gimbon Tuballa Federico Tuballa Ian Lee Patrimonio Theresa Lopez Ginette Vicuna Jerecho Duran Jezrell Poblacion John Rey Partosa Jade Acabal Ma. Geselda Casido Jose Vernon Lopita Petchria Sol Ronald Teves Noel Enojo The capsized vessel, along with the rescued passengers and crewmembers, were brought to Apo Island. According to the Visayan Daily Star, the boat was ferrying the passengers to Apo Island from the Malatapay Terminal in Maluay, Zamboanguita town when the weather suddenly turned bad during the trip. Bibat said the seawaters between Apo Island and Malatapay could get rough at times. The initial reports reaching the Coast Guard showed the fishing boat left the Malatapay wharf around 9:15 a.m. and encountered big waves halfway into the trip. Fortunately for the fishing boat, another rented motorboat "Shana" was nearby and helped rescue the stricken vessel's passengers. A team from the Negros Oriental Search and Rescue led by Alejandro Somoza also helped in the rescue. Bibat said the Coast Guard station at Malatapay had determined that the F/B Albert was not overloaded, as its maximum carrying capacity is 30 passengers per trip. The Coast Guard did not cancel any trips to Apo Island and back even after the incident. – VVP, GMA News 
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