The MB Melody went down about one nautical mile off Naval pier in Biliran province while en route to Maripipi.
Police said the boat's passengers were on their way home Monday from a religious festival in a town in Biliran province when strong winds battered their boat, causing it to capsize.
Crisolito Agustin, regional coast guard chief, said search teams were still scouring the waters off Biliran province, 500 kilometers ( 312 miles ) southeast of Manila, for the remaining 12 passengers and four crew members of the Kalibo Star.
It's difficult to find biliran province in a sentence.
