Coast Guard: Seven Koreans rescued off Cebu

At least 10 people, including seven Koreans, were rescued after their motor banca capsized off Cebu province Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Friday. Citing a belated report, the Coast Guard said the incident occurred around 11 a.m. Thursday off Nalusuan Island in Cordova, Cebu. Six of the Koreans were guests while the seventh is a dive instructor, the Coast Guard said in its website. PCG spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente identified the six Korean guests as:

• Choi Hyuk, 28
• Bae Hong Ryeol, 29
• Sung Tae Kyung, 29
• Young Sook, 25
• Bo Bae Park, 28
• Hewon Jung, 29

The others who were rescued were:

• dive master Jeffrey Sabonillo, 27
• dive instructor Cho Dock Hee, 29, also a Korean operator of Sun & Sun Dive Shop in Lapu-Lapu City
• two unidentified Filipino boat crew.

An investigation showed the motor banca "Abay Toshi" left Maribago, Lapu-Lapu, for a diving expedition off Cordova around 9 a.m. Thursday. But it capsized around 11 a.m. after one of its outriggers broke due to big waves. The Coast Guard managed to rescue the victims with the help of the 202nd Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Squadron. The victims were safely brought back to the dive shop in Maribago, Lapu-lapu City in good physical condition. — LBG, GMA News