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MANILA, Philippines – Nearly two days after their motor boat capsized while they were island-hopping in Marinduque, two German tourists and their Australian companion were rescued on Thursday by a passing cargo vessel off the coast of Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Citing a report from its Western Visayas District office, the PCG headquarters in Manila Sunday identified the rescued foreigners as Ralf Harald Auer, 54; his 20-year-old son Thomas; and family friend Joshua Marsh, also 20.
However, their unidentified Filipino guide, also the boat operator, is still missing, said the PCG.
Initial PCG investigation disclosed that on Dec. 18, the boat carrying the three foreigners and their local guide “capsized due to big waves and strong winds.”
The tourists “managed to cling to the boat’s outriggers but the Filipino boat operator got lost.”
The vessel MV Foremost Trader was on its way from Mariveles, Bataan to Iloilo City when it chanced upon the capsized boat.
The cargo vessel arrived at Iloilo City port on Dec. 21, where the rescued foreigners were immediately brought to St. Paul’s Hospital for medical checkup.
The PCG-Western Visayas District cited the crew of MV Foremost Trader for saving the three foreign tourists.
The PCG did not say if a search-and-rescue operation was conducted by its personnel in both Marinduque and Oriental Mindoro for the missing tour guide.
Meanwhile, personnel of the PCG station in Masbate City rescued on Saturday all 39 passengers and five crew members of a distressed passenger and cargo boat off Barangay (village) Nursery, also in that city.
The vessel, the Ange-TR, was on its way from Barangay Burgos to the city port when it “encountered unfavorable sea conditions damaging its steering functions, leaving the boat dead on water.”
“Immediately, upon receipt of said information, the PCG station in the city conducted boat towing and rescue operations,” said the PCG headquarters.
In southern Palawan, personnel of the PCG detachment in Balabac island has resumed their search-and-rescue mission for five crew members of a motor boat which developed engine trouble on Thursday near Sumanahan Reef off Lumbucan Island.
“Due to very rough sea conditions, the search-and-rescue operation was temporarily stopped. But it resumed when the weather improved,” according to the PCG.