ILOILO City – The island-hopping of a 21-member family from Masbate province ended tragically in the waters off Carles, Iloilo. Their motorboat capsized and one member, a senior citizen, drowned.
The sea mishap happened at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The motorboat was returning to Masbate, said Police Captain Francis Albert Fortunado, Carles police chief.
He identified the fatality as Carmelita Narciso of Cauayan, Masbate.
Strong winds and big waves tossed the boat until it capsized some 500 meters way from the Isla de Gigantes group of islands, a popular tourist destination in northern Iloilo province under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Carles.
“Carmelita failed to cling to the capsized motorboat to stay afloat,” said Fotunado.
The survivors were rescued by passing motorboats and Philippine Coast Guard./PN
