Breaking News:

“Sakay-Sakay” revelry turns deadly

By BONG PEDALINO and ERNA SY GORNE, PIA Southern Leyte
Posted 3:30pm, January 15, 2006

SAN RICARDO, Southern Leyte  --  Fourteen children and four adults for a total of 16 persons were reported killed from drowning here this morning January 15 when the full-packed boat they were riding capsized at the height of a traditional religious festivity in honor of the Child Jesus or Sto. Nino, locally known as “sakay-sakay” (a sea-borne celebration).

In a sketchy report received by PIA about an hour ago, it was learned that the boat, identified as ML Sanjay, was returning to the port area at barangay Inolinan, this town, and in fact was in its last curve closer to shore when suddenly it got off balanced and literally turned upside down.

The unexpected incident happened around 9:30 to 10:00 this morning.

As this report was written, a rescue operation by the Philippine Air Force Scuba Diving Team was ongoing and the Southern Leyte Emergency Rescue Team (SOLERT) and the Red Cross were seen rushing to the site.

A Philippine Air Force helicopter was also seen hovering over Southern Leyte skies just about noon, apparently going to the area.  Reports said Gov. Lerias herself rode with the helicopter, having been in Manila when the incident happened, but this could not be immediately confirmed.

ML Sanjay, the ill-fated boat carrying the “sakay-sakay” revelers, has a capacity of 100 passengers, but many believed the actual passengers were over a hundred, causing it to capsize so suddenly when it tilted on the side.

The said boat was also a utility passenger vehicle plying the San Ricardo-Surigao route, and it has been used for this kind of celebration over the past years already.