The victims were from several families who were travelling between two tiny islands on Saturday, said Rosario Cabrera, regional head of the civil defence office.
"The (boat) overturned due to big waves," Cabrera said in a written report. Her office sent a copy to AFP.
The dead children were aged between one month and eight years, she said.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
