1 dead as speedboat capsizes in Antique; Ehra Madrigal, Bianca Manalo survive

A man died while nine others, including a mayor and two actresses, survived after a speedboat capsized in waters off Sebaste, Antique on Thursday morning.

The lone fatality was identified as Benny Dable, 50, who was the driver of the speedboat. He died of stroke and was declared dead on arrival at the Justice Calixto Zaldivar Memorial Hospital.

Dable was the cousin and bodyguard of Pandan town Mayor Jonathan Tan.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Pandan Public Relations Officer Jesus Aguirre Dioso said the speedboat capsized at more or less four to five kilometers away from the shoreline of Barangay Aras-asan, Sebaste, Antique around 10:50 a.m.

Aside from Tan, other survivors included actresses Bianca Manalo and Ehra Madrigal, Madrigal's husband Tom Yeung, Majel Tresch, Joyce Mallari and her two daughters ages 12 and eight, and Toribio Barrientos Jr.

Dioso said the speedboat, which was carrying 10 passengers, was bound for Mararison Island in Culasi, Antique for a Holy Week vacation when it encountered strong waves.

"Ang bilis daw eh, within 15 seconds tumaob yung bangka, yung pump boat and then 'yun lahat sila nakakapit sa speedboat, they're clinging for their lives and then si Mayor Tan, nagdecide siya na lumangoy papuntang shoreline para makahingi ng tulong," Dioso said, who was also supposed to be part of the group going to Mararison Island.

He said Tan swam for more than two hours and reached the shoreline at  1:45 p.m. where he was assisted by fishermen.

"Mayor Tan swam for more than two hours to get into the shoreline at nakita siya ng mga fisherfolks, na-rescue siya. Sumakay siya ulit sa pump boat to rescue his companions," Dioso said.

Manalo was still able to post on social media just before the incident.

 

???? Blue river, wider than a mile • ???? @cocoblissmanila

A post shared by Bianca Manalo (@biancamanalo) on

Mar 28, 2018 at 6:43pm PDT

The survivors are currently staying at the residence of Tan.

"They're all safe and well, medyo nagpapahinga lang, 'yun nga they're still grieving for yesterday's incident pero they're all well," Dioso said. — MDM, GMA News