DINALUNGAN, Aurora — A helicopter from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, three teams from the 56th Infantry “Tatag” Battalion, Philippine Army, police and the group of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Sunday conducted search, rescue and retrieval operations on the five missing passengers of a motorized boat that capsized here since Thursday afternoon.
Ltc. Louie DS. Villanueva, Tatag Battalion Commander said that the group belongs to Dumagat tribe who left Barangay Simbahan here on board a motorized banca bound to Barangay San Ildefonso, Casiguran.
They were Taruk Tikiman, 47; , Lody Tikiman, 82; Sibo Tikiman, 2; Josephine Gusilatar, 27; Raymond Gusilatar, 9; Rayman Gusilatar 6; Ryan Ken Gusilatar, 2; Mary Rose Bekyadan and Jaja Bekyadan.
However, their banca capsized due to strong winds and big waves along Barangay Mapalad, Dinalungan, Aurora.
One of the passengers whose body was found dead along the ocean in front of Barangay Simbahan was identified as Rangel Tikiman.
Those still missing , on the other hand, were Taruk Tikiman, Lody Tikiman, Sibo Tikiman, Raymond Gusilatar, and Jaja Bekyadan.
One of survivors, Josephine Gusilatar, personally reported the incident to the Dinalungan Police Station.
The ill-fated motorized banca, meanwhile, was recovered at the coastal area of Barangay Abuleg, Dinalungan. PNA-northboundasia.com