By Henry Empeño | August 29, 2026

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — Two more bodies of drowning victims were fished out of Lake Mapanuepe here this Saturday, August 29, two days after a motorboat capsized on the lake and claimed the lives of six other Aeta residents.

The San Marcelino Public Information Office (PIO) said the body of five-year old Chandrea Dela Cruz Pabalan was first spotted at about 10:10 a.m. by residents from Sitio Lumibao who were on a boat going to Barangay Buhawen Proper.

The residents retrieved the body and brought it to the barangay hall where it was positively identified by the victim’s father, Deolito Pabalan.

The second body was recovered from the lake by a Search, Rescue and Retrieval team at about 11:05 a.m.

Palito Liwanag, who was among the four survivors of the boat mishap, identified the second body as that of his son, 12-year old Angelito.

The drowning victims were brought to a funeral home after retrieval, the San Marcelino PIO said.

Pabalan and Liwanag were among the 13 passengers of a motorized banca that sank amid stormy weather at Lake Mapanuepe on Thursday, August 27.

The tragic accident occurred while the group was heading for home at Sitio Lumibao in Buhawen after attending a 4Ps meeting and getting vaccine shots at the Buhawen Barangay Center.

The six victims who were retrieved right after the accident were identified as Elvie Pabalan, Joanavie Mae Pabalan, Sally Dela Cruz, Evelyn Lagman, two-year old Prince Lenard Dela Cruz, and two-year old Cedric Liwanag.

As of now, one victim remains missing: 26-year-old Arlene Paanan Liwanag, who was reported to be pregnant.

Authorities said search and retrieval operations continued Saturday after it was temporarily halted late Friday due to heavy rains and poor visibility at Mapanuepe.

The Zambales Provincial Police Office said earlier that the motorboat operator has been detained at the San Marcelino Police Station for possible filing of charges for reckless imprudence, as authorities believed the tragic banca was overloaded when it sank.

The local government unit will shoulder the funeral services for the victims in support of their grieving families, the San Marcelino PIO also said. ▲

COVER PHOTO: Residents and search responders retrieved two more bodies from Lake Mapanuepe on Saturday, August 29, two days after the tragic boat accident on the lake. (San Marcelino PIO photo)