Filipino survivor in sunken Panamanian vessel in good health —DFA

The Filipino sailor of the sunken Panamanian cargo vessel who was rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard is in good condition and will he repatriated to the Philippines soon, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

"The Filipino is currently recovering in the hospital and is reported to be in good health. He will be repatriated to the Philippines once COVID protocols are cleared," the DFA said.

As the search for the missing crew members of the Panamanian-flagged Gulf Livestock 1 continues, an unidentified person was found in the ocean. The person has yet to be identified.

The vessel, carrying 43 mostly Filipino crewmen, sank due to bad weather off Japan's southwestern waters. The DFA said 38 more Filipinos, along with New Zealand and Australian crew, remain missing.

En route to Port of Jingtang in Tangshan, the ship was able make a distress call on Sept. 2 from Amami Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Philippine Labor officials, the DFA said, are coordinating with the manning agency, ship owner as well as the Japanese Coast Guard to try and obtain more information about the missing seafarers in order to contact their relatives.

The DFA said the government will extend all appropriate assistance for the Filipino seafarers and their families.

"The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the Consulate General in Osaka are providing their full support.  The DFA remains hopeful that the other Filipino seafarers will soon be found." —KBK, GMA News