ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday announced that it ended the search for the eight missing passengers of a wooden-hulled boat that capsized on July 30 near the Philippine border with Malaysia.
Capt. Joseph Coyme, Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao commander, has ordered its seaborne personnel and the BRP-Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) to pull back and end the search and rescue mission.
Lt. Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said Coyme has ordered BRP-Cape San Agustin to focus and strengthen law enforcement in the southern border of the Philippines.
Ramos said a maritime casualty investigation team was activated to look into the cause of the July 30 incident since the ill-fated motorboat was “unregistered” and was used “to cross the border without authority”.
“The Coast Guard Action Center has issued Notice to Mariners for all vessels transiting in the area to be on the lookout for possible survivors and also cooperate with PCG’s counterpart in Malaysia for possible retrieval operations, but to no avail,” Ramos said.
Those missing were among the 16 people, including 10 children, aboard an unnamed wooden-hulled vessel that capsized on July 30 near the Philippine border with Malaysia.
One of them, Ibrahim Mandul, 38, survived while the bodies of the seven others were recovered by fishermen near Barangays Tongusong and Datu Baguinda Putih in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.
Lt. Senior Grade Euphraim Jayson Diciano, Bongao Coast Guard Station commander, earlier said the bodies were immediately buried since “these were already in the advance stage of decomposition”.
Fishermen rescued Mandul drifting at sea on August 3 near Talapan Reef in the town of Sitangkai.
Mandul said they were en route to Sempornah in the Malaysian state of Sabah, that the Philippines has dormant claim on -- when the vessel sank after it was battered by strong winds and big waves.
The PCG has reminded the vessel operators to always monitor the weather condition while sailing from one place to another to prevent sea mishaps. (PNA)
