5 dead, many more missing as passenger vessel capsizes in Sulu

MANILA (PNA) -- Five people were found dead while many more are still missing as an unregistered passenger vessel, the MPB Wilayza, capsized off Pata and Tapul Island Thursday night.Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the stricken craft was carrying an estimated 50 plus passengers and crewmembers along with undetermined amount of cement bags and iron bars.Col. Allan Arojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, directed the Naval Task Unit to deploy the BRP Dioscoro Papa (PG-381) to help in the ongoing search-and-rescue mission.During the search and rescue operations, five of the passengers, mostly from the municipalities of Talipao and Tapul, were found dead.Fourteen others, seven of which were children, were taken to Integrated Provincial Health Office Jolo by rescuers for medical treatment.Other survivors were already at Tapul Island being attended by the barangay officials, led by Chairman Abraham Daud of Tapul, who were the first to respond.An undetermined number of people are still missing. Search-and-rescue operation by government authorities are ongoing. (PNA)LGI/PFN