(Eagle News) – The Philippine Coast Guard rescued 30 people aboard a motor boat which drifted in the vicinity of waters off the Royal Captain Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Friday night.
The Coast Guard said that the 30 passengers aboard the Motor Launch Hadzraima which was headed for Pagasa island made a distress call at 7:01p.m. that was received by the Coast Guard district of Palawan.
The passengers were all residents of the municipality of Kalayaan which includes Pagasa island, which is part of the Spratly Group of islands.
The call came “from a certain Mr Rey Fernando, Radio Operator of Kalayaan, informing that M/L Hadzraima with 30 passengers onboard, all residents and employees of Municipality of Kalayaan.”
They requested for “immediate rescue” after drifting at the vicinity of waters off West of Sicud, Rizal, Palawan, a Coast Guard release said.
It said the “motor launch departed Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on 04 July 2019 enroute to Pag-asa Island.”
Commodore Allen T Toribio PCG, Commander of CGD Palawan, then directed the “Barko Republika ng Pilipinas Sindangan (MRRV-4407)” which was then conducting Maritime Patrol at vicinity waters of Balabac, Palawan to conduct Search and Rescue Operations, and help the passengers and crew of the distressed motor launch.
“BRP Sindangan immediately proceeded to the area and sighted M/L Hadzraima at vicinity off Royal Captain Shoal, West Philippine Sea. BRP Sindangan established radio contact to the distressed motor launch and rendered necessary assistance,” it said.