48 rescued from distressed vessel off Batanes

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — Thirty three passengers and 15 crew members of a motorized banca were rescued on Wednesday  after the vessel broke down on the way to the Sabtang Island port in Batanes,  a belated report from the Philippine Coast Guard said on Saturday.

MB Sta. Ines 2 began to drift when its propeller malfunctioned after leaving Ivana Port, also in Batanes.

The Coast Guard substation in Sabtang was alerted by one of the stranded passengers, Coast Guard Seaman Second Class (SN2) Jayson Orendez, who helped calm down the passengers.

A private banca was commissioned to tow the distressed vessel to the port. Everyone on board were safe, the Coast Guard said.

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