Rough seas strands hundreds of passengers in Bicol

TABACO, Philippines - Due to rough seas and big waves, hundreds of passengers were stranded in the eastern region of Bicol as the Philippine Coast Guard barred passenger ferries from sailing early in the day due to rough seas. Capt. Henry Caballero, Philippine Coast Guard chief for the region, said 1,009 passengers were stranded in the Tabaco port in Albay, 53 at the Pasacao port Camarines Sur, and 450 at Matnog port in Sorsogon. Officials said the passengers stranded in Tabaco were were mostly coming from Manila for the island province of Catanduanes. Even though there was no public storm signal, the Coast Guard had to stop the ships from sailing to ensure the safety of the passengers, said PO2 Nicodemus Arines of the PCG in Tabaco. Arines assured the passengers that once the sea waters would be deemed safe for sailing, sea vessels would be allowed to leave port. - Michael B. Jaucian, GMANews.TV