AFP helps in search for 7 fishermen

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has joined a search and rescue operation being conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for seven fishermen who were reported missing following a collision between a fishing boat and a foreign cargo vessel in the waters off Palawan on Saturday.

The AFP, through the Philippine Navy and the Air Force, lent its assets and resources to enable the PCG to expand its rescue and operation efforts.

The Navy’s BRP Jose Andrada and the Air Force’s F27 were deployed in the area where the collision between the FB JOT-18 and the M/V Happy Hiro occurred.

The AFP’s Western Command and its Tactical Operations Wing-West were also tapped to assist in the aerial search, according to PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo.

The PCG issued a notice to mariners, alerting transiting vessels to be on the lookout for the missing fishermen of FB JOT-18.

“As of now we have not received any information if the water current in the area was strong at the time of the incident. But we assured the family of these missing fishermen that we would continue with the search, and would check all possible areas where these fishermen may have been washed ashore,” Balilo said.

Initial information received by the PCG showed the JOT-18 reportedly experienced engine trouble when it collided with the Marshall Island-registered Happy Hiro at around 5:40 p.m. near Maracanao Island located off the coast of Agutaya town.

The JOT-18 had 20 fishermen on board at the time of the incident.

Fishing boat FB BAL-5 rescued the 13 fishermen and took them to the Happy Hiro, where they were given initial treatement for minor injuries.

They were turned over to the PCG at the Port of Antique.

The Happy Hiro was not allowed to leave Antique pending results of an inspection and investigation on the circumstances surrounding the sea mishap.

“We will check the log of the Happy Hiro if it sounded its alarm system to warn or alert the JOT-18 and avoid a collision,” Balilo said.

Ferry boat fire

Meanwhile, the PCG said that combustible materials could have caused the fire that broke out on board a fast craft in the waters off Real, Quezon more than a week ago.

The materials were left unattended on the deck of the M/V Mercraft 2, located near the engine room where the fire reportedly originated.

“Because of continuous exposure to heat, it was possible that the materials ignited,” PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said.

The Mercraft 2, which had 134 people on board including 12 crewmembers, was approaching the Port of Real when the incident occurred on May 23.