A total of 10 people were reportedly missing after a fishing boat suffered engine malfunction and sank in the vicinity waters of Iloilo and Antique Tuesday evening. The Coast Guard Action Center (CGAC) in Manila received a radio message from the Coast Guard District-Western Visayas Wednesday morning informing them that a certain Felicisima Atay requested them to conduct a search and rescue (SAR) operation for her brother Elizaldo Alfreda and nine crew members onboard fishing boat Salvan after it reportedly sank around 6:30 p.m. of Tuesday in the waters off Iloilo and Anini-y in Antique. Lieutenant Commander Armando Balilo, PCG spokesman, said that based on the initial investigation, FB Salvan departed Dawahon Bato, Leyte, at 5 a.m. of August 9, which was scheduled to do fishing somewhere in the Province of Palawan, but due to unfavorable weather and sea conditions, the vessel sank w
While sailing in the said area. "While half-submerged, Elizaldo Alfreda contacted Atay through cell phone asking for help and informing her of their last position and situation," Balilo said. Personnel from Coast Guard Station-Puerto Princesa and Coast Guard District-Western Visayas immediately directed their nearest SAR vessel BRP-Davao del Norte (SARV-3504) to search for the said missing people. The CGAC already sent Notice to Mariners to the nearby marine vessels in the area where the said fishing boat was last spotted.
