MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen fishermen from Bataan remain missing after their fishing boat sank in Recto or Reed Bank in the West Philippine Sea last week.
Fishing vessel FFB Joseph rescued one crew member of FFB
Three Sister, which sunk after encountering strong winds and big waves brought about by Tropical Cyclone
Quiel on November 7.
The crew member, identified as Angelito
Espetito Jr.,
was rescued after being seen floating using a container near Scarborough or
Panatag Shoal, the PCG said.
Espetito said
he was separated from his fellow fishermen
due to the winds and waves and he
was not able to regroup with the 14 others.
The fishermen were on their way to their home port at
Brgy.
Sisiman, Mariveles, Bataan when they encountered the typhoon.
The incident was only reported to the coast guard last November 11, according to PCG spokesperson Capt. Armand
Balilo.
The PCG has deployed BRP
Tubbataha, BRP Capones and BRP Boracay to conduct search and rescue operations in
the area of
Panatag Shoal.
Balilo said they will also coordinate with the Chinese Coast Guard as there had been an incident before where the latter rescued passing vessels.