Rescue bid on for 12 seamen

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Taiwanese Coast Guard have joined forces to locate and rescue the 12 missing crewmen of a Panama-flagged vessel that was abandoned on Wednesday morning by its crewmen near the boundary of the two countries.

Capt. George Ursabia, PCG-Northern Luzon District commander, said both countries are both conducting search and rescue missions to locate the 12 missing crewmembers of the Jian Fu Star MSSI.

Reports said the ship had 25 crewmembers. The body of one of the crewmen has been recovered, while Taiwan’s Coast Guard has rescued 12 others, leaving 12 more missing.