CEBU CITY—Three people were confirmed dead while six, including an infant, are still missing when a passenger outrigger sank in the waters between Cebu and Camotes islands Wednesday evening.

Police reported that the boat, MV Anton, was on its way from Danao City just north of Cebu City to Pilar town in the Camotes group of islands, located northeast of mainland Cebu.

PO1 Ritchie Camilio told radio station dyLA in Cebu that strong waves, which are common around the island, tipped the wooden-hulled boat to its side sinking it.

He said most of the passengers were from Cebu and Mandaue cities who were on their way home to Camotes for the holidays.

One of the six missing is a seven-month-old baby who was with his Cebu City-based father going home to Pilar for the holidays.

The boat left Danao City around 1 p.m. on Wednesday with 12 passengers and 15 crew members.  

Danao City is home port for most motorized banca for Camotes islands, with some outriggers capable of carrying close to a hundred passengers each.

Camotes is composed of four major islands covering four municipalities —Poro, Tudela, San Francisco and Pilar.

Aside from the sea tragedy in the north, police said the All Saints’ Day celebrations in Cebu City was “generally peaceful,” aside from minor traffic accidents.

Cebu City police chief, Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said policemen will continue to man their posts in the cemeteries up to the evening, where many people are still expected to visit the cemetery.

Augmentation elements from Armed Forces Central Command are also joining in the security operations, together with barangay-based personnel and security volunteers.

Despite the absence of a serious threat to the celebrations, Supt. Paul Labra II, deputy city police commander said, the police are looking at full deployment so they would be ready for a worst-case scenario.

The city’s traffic enforcers are also in full force, manning intersections and vehicular traffic outside the major cemeteries, many of which are located well inside the urban areas.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, earlier told BusinessMirror, that police help centers and medical help volunteers are present in all major cemeteries.

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CEBU CITY—Three people were confirmed dead while six, including an infant, are still missing when a passenger outrigger sank in the waters between Cebu and Camotes islands Wednesday evening.

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