Pilar mayor’s secretary, teachers among victims

BONTILLO Galano, Jr., secretary to Pilar Mayor Jesus “Jet” Fernandez, yesterday went on leave to finalize a transaction in Ormoc City.

The 60-year-old secretary died along with 34 passengers when the MB Kim Nirvana-B motor banca capsized minutes after it left  Ormoc City bound for Pilar, Camotes Island in Cebu at past noon yesterday.

“I was saddened to learn of his death (from his son). He worked for me as private secretary for eight years. During our last conversation last Wednesday, there was no indication that something bad would happen to him,” Fernandez said.

Galano boarded the morning trip to Ormoc City, so he could also catch the noon trip back to Pilar. At least 134 passengers survived the sea tragedy.

One of them is Pilar Municipal Councilor Wilo Angus who is confined in an Ormoc City hospital.

The mayor said most of the victims were residents of his town.

Since Pilar town is nearer to Ormoc than mainland Cebu, most of the residents go to Ormoc to buy supplies, to study and even work.

Perished

But since the incident happened on a Thursday, most of the victims just bought supplies in Ormoc.

Fernandez said Ormoc City is less than an hour’s trip to Pilar whereas Danao City in Cebu is more than a two-hour trip.

Meanwhile, Milagros Roshe was tearful as she looked at the photos of her aunt-in-law, Felipa Santiago, her niece Amor Cabahug and another niece Rolyn dela Torre, who were among those who perished.

Santiago and dela Torre went to Ormoc City with their families and the co-workers of their husbands assigned in Pilar National High School.

The teachers just received their Priority Enhancement Incentive (PEI) and went to Ormoc City to enjoy their bonus.

Roshe said most of the passengers were high school teachers with their families and friends.

She said Sonia Moreno, the principal of Pilar National High School, were among those who died.

Confident

Roshe said her first degree cousin, Ariel Zalco, one of the passengers who survived, didn’t expect the boat to capsize.

“He told me that they were not worried that the banca will sink because they were confident based on the manifesto that there were enough passengers in the banca,” she said.

In a statement issued to the media, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

He said the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office are investigating the incident.