ILOILO City – Vice President Leni Robredo visited yesterday the wakes here and in Guimaras of some casualties of the Aug. 3 Iloilo Strait mishap.
In this city, she commiserated with the bereaved Java, Salanatin and Alejado families in Mandurriao district.
Robredo extended financial assistance to the families.
From Iloilo City, Robredo proceeded to Guimaras to also meet in Jordan town the families of the other victims.
A mass and a ceremonial flower-laying were also held.
Past noon on Aug. 3, M/B Chi Chi and M/B Keshia, both bound for Guimaras from Iloilo City, were hit by a squall or a sudden gust of violent winds and rain. They capsized.
At around 4 p.m. Iloilo City-bound M/B Jenny Vince from Guimaras was hit by another squall and also capsized.
The three boats had a total of 83 passengers and 13 crewmen. Thirty-one people drowned.
On Aug. 12, President Rodrigo Duterte was also in Iloilo City and released financial assistance to the families. Thirteen of the casualties were at the Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc. in Barangay Balabago, Jaro district. The President condoled with the families.
Duterte was supposed to visit the wake of the other casualties in the island province of Guimaras, too, but his trip was cancelled due to poor visibility./PN
