Coast Guard sends tugboat to rescue distressed vessel off Batangas

CITY OF CALAPAN, Philippines–The Coast Guard in this city has responded to the call for help of a ferry boat that developed engine trouble more than an hour after sailing off from Batangas port Monday morning.

Police Officer 1 Justino Gunio, officer-in-charge of operations of Coast Guard Calapan, in a phone interview, said they have sent a tugboat to rescue the vessel named Starlite Ferry Polaris.

The ferry departed from Batangas port at 9:30 a.m. but developed engine trouble at 11 a.m. just after passing by Isla Verde, one of the boat’s passengers, Banjo Cleofe, said in a text message.

Gunio said the tugboat arrived to rescue the vessel and its passengers three hours later. He said all passengers have been accounted for and safe but the number of boat passengers was not immediately known.