FERRY-WATER TAXI COLLISION OFF BATANGAS LEAVES 2 DEAD

A SEA mishap in the waters off Verde Island in Batangas on Wednesday left two people dead and two others wounded.

Coast Guard Station Batangas commander Capt. Jerome Jeciel reported that the fatalities were a boat captain and a crew member of Hop & Go 1.

Two Chinese passengers were wounded.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), passenger ferry Ocean Jet 6 was on its way to Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro from Batangas while the water taxi Hop & Go 1 was en route to Batangas from Puerto Galera when the collision occurred.

The water taxi was carrying two other Chinese passengers and one Swedish passenger during the incident.

The PCG said all 115 passengers and 19 crew members of Ocean Jet 6 were safe and in good physical condition when they arrived at the Calapan Port.

“The responding team is towing Hop & Go 1 to Puerto Galera, where its yard is located,” Jeciel said.

The Batangas Coast Guard official said the wounded passengers were given medical assistance while authorities are coordinating with the bereaved families of the two Filipino crew.

PCG commander Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the sea mishap.