AFP joins search, rescue op for 7 missing fishermen in Palawan —PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is helping in the search and rescue operation for the seven missing fishermen following the weekend's sea accident off Palawan.

“Kasama na po natin yung puwersa ng AFP (we are now joined by AFP forces),” PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said in an interview on Unang Balita.

“Lumipad din po yung eroplano ng Air Force at isang barko ng Navy na kasama po noong barko at eroplano ng Coast Guard po na naghahnap,” he added.

(An aircraft from the Air Force and a ship from the Navy joined the vessel and aircraft of the Coast Guard in searching for the missing fishermen.)

The incident involves Filipino boat FB JOT-18, which collided with MV Happy Hiro, a cargo vessel sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, off Maracanao Island in Agutaya, Palawan, on Saturday.

On Sunday, search and rescue teams covered 92 square miles of the concerned area but did not spot any of the missing fishermen, Balilo said in a separate interview on Dobol B TV on Monday.

Balilo said they are currently validating a "lead" on what caused the collision. He said the accounts of the survivors may be used if charges need to be filed against MV Happy Hiro.

“Meron na pong lead kaya lang ito'y bina-validate pa [We already have a lead but  we are still validating it],” he said.

PCG’s Port State Control inspectors already got into the MV Happy Hiro to check its logs of actions in connection with the incident.

“Umakyat yung Port State Control para checkin kung tama yung accounts ng mga nasabing fishermen base doon sa record ng barko at saka doon sa pagkilos at maneuver na gumawa ng barko during that time,” Balilo said.

(The Port State Control boarded the MV Happy Hiro to check if the accounts of the fishermen were correct based on the record of the vessel and its actions and maneuver during that time.)

According to the PCG, 13 out of the 20 fishermen of FB JOT-18 were rescued from the incident. —KBK, GMA News