SEVEN fishermen went missing while 13 others were rescued after their boat collided with a cargo vessel off Palawan last Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.
The PCG withheld the identities of the missing victims, who are still the subject of search and rescue operations as of yesterday afternoon.
PCG Communications Officer Joy Gumatay said PCG and Philippine ships have been deployed to conduct the search and rescue efforts, augmented by a PCG Islander plane.
Gumatay said the fishermen were in the vicinity of Macaranao Island in Agutaya town when their boat, FB Jot-18, collided with the cargo vessel MV Happy Hiro.
The cargo vessel, sailing under the flag of Marshal Islands, was on its way to Australia from China at that time of the mishap.
A transiting fishing boat, FB Bal 5, rescued 13 of the 20 fishermen aboard the ill-fated fishing boat. Twelve of the rescued fishermen suffered minor injuries.
Rescued were Donde Petiero, Roderico Mata, Randy Mata, Renie Espinosa, Mario Quezon, Sammuel Ducay, Rendil Dela Peña, Martin Flores Jr., Jupiter Jbañiez, Andring Pasicaran, Jonel Mata, Joemar Pahid, and Arjay Barsaga.
“The seven (other) crew members remain missing. SAR (search and rescue) operations are ongoing,” Gumatay said.
