2 drown as boat sinks off CamSur

CAMARINES NORTE, Philippines  – Two civilian agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) drowned while a police officer was missing when a motorboat capsized off the waters of Lago-noy, Camarines Sur on Friday.

The fatalities were identified as Tomas Rentoy VII and Isagani Dadis and the missing officer as Senior Police Officer 4 Edwin Pagao.

Initial investigation showed a joint team of CIDG agents led by Chief Inspector Ronnie Pabia and personnel of the provincial police office were among 14 passengers of a boat that left Tamban Port in Tinambac town at around 9 a.m.

The boat was headed for Garchitorena town, where the officers were supposed to conduct an anti-drug operation.

Upon reaching the waters off Barangay Mapid in Lagonoy town, strong winds and waves spawned by Typhoon Marce battered the boat, causing it to capsize.

Petty Officer 1 Joselito Banigas of the Philippine Coast Guard’s Tinambac station said Dadis and Rentoy tried to swim to shore but they were carried away by the current.

It was the second sea accident involving law enforcers within this month.

On Nov. 8, five police officers and an Army corporal lost their firearms and personal belongings when their banca capsized off Matnog Port in Sorsogon.

Meanwhile, in nearby Caramoan town, nine passengers were rescued after their motorized banca capsized off Matukad Island in Barangay Pandan on Thursday.

Rescued passengers Lyndon Portugana, Dina Mitra, Mark Gabriel Gomez, Keylyn Co, Michelle Ferrion, Ramil Gapoy, Charlie Caballero, Manuel Alarcon and Raymond Sarmiento suffered minor injuries.  – With Evelyn Macairan