Search resumes for 3 missing Aeta after boat capsizes in Zambales

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — Despite continuing heavy rains over Zambales on Friday, the search will continue for three members of an Aeta indigenous community who have gone missing after the boat carrying them capsized in Mapanuepe Lake in San Marcelino town.

The subjects of the search are a 26-year-old woman and two young children. They were among the 13 passengers in the boat that capsized at about 2 p.m. on Thursday near the Sunken Church in Barangay Buhawen. 

READ: 6 Aeta, including 3 children, die as boat capsizes in Zambales lake

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Search and recovery operations will resume with the municipal disaster response personnel, the police, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other responding agencies taking part.

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In a phone interview, Euphraim Jayson Diciano, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Zambales, said personnel from their Special Operations Group are expected to conduct an underwater search for the three missing passengers.

The boat reportedly encountered strong winds and rough lake conditions while returning from a vaccination program and a meeting under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Six passengers died in the incident: Elvis Tiglao Pabalan, 33; Joanavie Mae Tiglao Pabalan (age not listed); Sally Serrano Dela Cruz, 29; Prince Lenard Serrano Dela Cruz, 1; Evelyn Yurik Lagman, 45; and Cedric Serrano Liwanag, 2.

Four survivors were identified as Rebecca Paana Sulit, 39; Palit Liwanag, 32; and Julian Pabalan Balario and Marqie Paanan Balario, whose ages were also not listed at press time.

The passengers are members of the Aeta community in Sitio Lumibao, an area across Mapanuepe Lake from the main part of Barangay Buhawen. Residents have to cross the lake by boat to reach the barangay proper./coa