A fishing boat from San Pascual, Masbate was struck by an unidentified cargo ship while at sea. 

One crew member was rescued but search is still underway for a missing 22-year-old.

Morning on August 10, a fishing boat carrying Roland Marientes and his sibling was hit by an unidentified cargo ship.

The collision occurred in the waters between Burias Island in Masbate and Sibuyan Island in Romblon.

Marientes said they were dozing off and were shocked to see a large cargo ship in front of them.

"'Yung bangka po namin na sinasakyan nakatali po kami sa ‘buoya’ tapos parang nakaidlip po yata kaming magkapatid nabigla na lang po kami — nagulat na nandyan na po yung malaking barko po sa harap ng bangka namin," he said.

Despite having lights and blinkers on their boat, the cargo ship allegedly failed to notice the smaller vessel.

"'Yung nakabangga po sa amin po, kung napansin po nila yung bangka namin, sana po hindi po nila kami binangga kasi kawawa naman po kaming mangingisda na maliliit lang," Marientes said.

Following the collision, Marientes spent five hours adrift at sea before he was rescued by a boat that was passing the area from Masbate. 

He has not found his 22-year-old sibling.

SEARCH

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Masbate is continuing its search and rescue operation for the missing crew member.

Coordination efforts have been extended to other Coast Guard stations in the provinces of Masbate and Romblon.

"In’advice’an namin yung mga coastal barangay namin dito sa Burias — nag-ikot kami dito na kung sakali may mga mangingisdang makakita — in-inform naming na may taong nawawala," CG PO1 Arthur Arga, Commander of the Coast Guard Substation San Pascual, said.