PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Philippine Navy rescued a distressed motorized boat filled with local tourists in the waters of Bacuit Bay in El Nido on Friday afternoon.
“Under the operational control of the Western Command’s Joint Task Force Malampaya (JTFM) in El Nido, the Navy vessel (BRP Federico Martir/PC 385) rescued a total of 20 Filipino tourists and three crewmen of Queen Cleopatra at around 4 p.m.,” said Capt. Cherryl Tindog, the Command’s spokesperson, on Saturday morning.
Tindog said PC 385 was conducting maritime patrol some 1,870 yards northeast off Miniloc Island, when its personnel noticed the frantic waving of the boat’s passengers.
“The ship’s personnel noticed a motorized banca at her port quarter with its passengers waving their hands, as a signal of distress, and found that it was already stuck in the water,” she said.
Given the rough weather condition, she said, and the need to render necessary assistance, PC 385’s commanding officer, Commander Virgilio de Guzman, immediately decided to approach Queen Cleopatra.
“If they had not been rescued on time, they might have been drifted somewhere and might have capsized,” said Tindog, adding the Navy vessel towed the boat that reportedly suffered engine failure. (PNA)
