28 people rescued from sinking fishing boat off El Nido, Palawan

PHOTO Courtesy of Western Command

Twenty-eight people were rescued from a sinking fishing boat off El Nido, Palawan by the military, the Western Command said Friday.

Wescom public affairs chief Captain Cherryl Tindog said the Joint Task Force (JTF) Malampaya responded to a distress call made by fishing boat Athan Uno after it started sinking 56 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of El Nido and three kilometers (two miles) off the Alcon Production platform on Thursday morning.

The JTF Malampaya immediately dispatched BRP Nestor Reinoso (PC 380) skippered by Commander Roldydin Cris Sergio.

The sinking boat was already half-submerged and being towed by another motor banca when the rescuers arrived.

The captain of the fishing boat said they were supposed to go to the West Philippine Sea to fish but the strong waves stopped them and they decided to anchor near the AP platform instead.

While there is no storm affecting the country, the southwest monsoon is bringing strong winds and high waves on some parts of the country, aside from the rainy weather.

The passengers were transferred to the Navy ship and arrived at El Nido and later turned over to El Nido Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.   /vvp