Motorized boat explodes in Catbalogan, no bodies found —military

A motorized boat exploded during an encounter with government troops in Catbalogan City, but no bodies have been found from the incident, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Monday.

Joint Task Force Storm Commander Major General Edgardo De Leon said visual estimates using night vision goggles showed that there were no more than 10 people onboard.

“Wala eh, nagpalipad na nga ako ng eroplano, ng surveillance aircraft baka may makita [none and I’ve already instructed a surveillance aircraft to fly in case they see something],” he said.

According to JTF Storm Captain Ryan Layug, a tipster told them that a group of armed individuals boarded a motorized boat with boxes from a shoreline north of Catbalogan City.

Soldiers upon arrival advised the passengers to submit for plain view inspection.

However, Layug said that the passengers fired shots toward the government troops before the soldier finished his verbal advisory. During the encounter, the boat exploded.

De Leon said he suspects that there were explosives aboard the boat.

“Ang duda kasi namin they are now moving out of Samar… so ang kanilang usual na ano is they will move out and they will bring along their explosives para kung saan man sila lilipat dun sila maglalatag ng mga kanilang defenses using explosives,” he said.

(We suspect that they are moving out of Samar… so their usual is that they will move out and they will bring along their explosives so they will use these to defend the new area.) — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News