A PASSENGER-CARGO vessel carrying around 120 passengers and crew caught fire in the vicinity waters off Panglao, Bohol on Sunday morning, said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The PCG said firefighting and rescue operations are ongoing for MV Esperanza Star, which had around 120 passengers and crew members on board.
The distressed vessel, skippered by Captain Desiderio Labiste Jr., departed from Port of Lazi in Siquijor, for the Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol.
Personnel of the BRP Malamawi, Coast Guard Sub-Station Tagbilaran, and Coast Guard Special Operations Unit-Tagbilaran are conducting the operations on the maritime incident.
