The rescued fishermen after their boat collided with a cargo vessel off Palawan.
AT least eight fishermen were reported missing after their fishing boat collided with a cargo vessel in Agutaya, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Sunday.
In its maritime incident report, the agency said its PCG Command Center received information that a Filipino fishing vessel collided on Saturday with MV Happy Hiro, a cargo vessel sailing under the flag of Marshall Island, in the vicinity waters off Maracanao Island in Agutaya, Palawan.
This was confirmed by PCG spokesperson CG Commodore Armando Balilo in a Super Radyo dzBB interview, noting that the collision happened at around 5:40 p.m.
PCG Coast Guard District Palawan said that out of 21 crew on board, 13 were rescued by Fishing Boat BAL 5, while the remaining eight crew members are still missing.
The 13 crew members were said to be transferred to MV Happy Hiro which was then en route to Lipata, Culasi, Antique to transport the rescued fishermen.
Meanwhile, MRRV 4406 BRP Suluan, together with rescue teams from Coast Guard Station Cuyo and Sub Station Agutay in Iloilo, are currently conducting search and rescue operations, the PCG said.
“Nagbigay na ng directive ang aming commandant, si Admiral Art Abu, na magkaroon ng isang malawakang search and rescue para hanapin itong walong crew na nawawala pa,” Balilo added.
The 13 rescued fishermen were transferred to MV HAPPY HIRO which ferried them to the vicinity waters off Lipata, Culasi, Antique to seek further assistance. Upon clearance from the BOQ, PCG’s BRP Panglao (FPB-2402) ferried the rescued fishermen to the shoreline.
According to MV HAPPY HIRO’s Medical Officer, Mr. Mckinley Amante, a resident of San Miguel, Iloilo, the 12 of the 13 rescued fishermen obtained scratches. The 13th fisherman had a minor wound on his head. He was given first aid and remains in a stable health condition.
The majority of the fishermen of FB JOT-18 are residents of Bantayan Island, Cebu. One of them is residing in Estancia, Iloilo:
RESCUED FISHERMEN
1. Donde Petiero, 38, Estancia, Iloilo
2. Roderico Mata, 31
3. Randy Mata, 36
4. Renie Espinosa, 38
5. Mario Quezon, 24
6. Sammuel Ducay, 40
7. Rendil Dela Peña, 42
8. Martin E. Flores Jr., 58
9. Jupiter Jbañiez, 38
10. Andring Pasicaran, 43
11. Jonel Mata, 30
12. Joemar Pahid, 32
13. Arjay Barsaga, 26
PCG’s BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406), PCG Station Cuyo, and PCG Sub-Station Agutay in Iloilo continue their operations to rescue the missing fishermen.
