A boat that tilted to its side as it was being loaded with sacks of cement led to the death of a man who was reportedly trying to help the vessel’s crew members survive the ordeal.

The incident happened late evening on March 11, 2026 at a port in the southern City of Naga in Cebu.

The boat is owned by a client of a cement company based in Naga. As it was being loaded with cement, it started tilting to its side, leaving workers scrambling to safety.

At that time, the man who died, Junry Baricog, 43, and three other workers happened to be on another vessel anchored right beside the boat.

As he was shouting down at the boat's crew to guide them, the rope that kept the barge ashore reportedly snapped and hit him. He then fell and hit head on a steel bar on the boat. He sustained serious injuries in the head.

Baricog was supposed to assist in loading sacks of cement into the boat he was on.

All 19 crew members of the boat that listed are safe.

INITIAL PROBE

Based on initial investigation, the Philippine Coast Guard found that it is possible that the way the sacks were loaded tampered with the boat’s balance.

Up to 27 tons of cement have already been loaded into the boat when the incident happened.

The Coast Guard has ordered the owner of the boat to salvage the vessel immediately and syphon its fuel to avoid having it spill into the sea. 

As of this writing, Baricog’s family is yet to decide whether or not they will file charges. They have asked for help in laying Baricog to rest and in ensuring his children can continue going to school.

The subcontractor that hired Baricog, as well as the cement company in Naga, have assured help.

The city government also said it will help the victim’s family.