News
Search for 4 missing passengers in Tubbataha sinking intensified
MANILA – The Puerto Princesa, Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom) on Wednesday announced that it has flown back to Manila 11 of the 28 survivors of the ill-fated yacht M/Y Dream Keeper, which sank off Tubbataha Reef due to a squall on April 30.
“Meanwhile, the search still continues for the other four missing passengers of the sunken dive yacht. Wescom already intensified its search and rescue (SAR) efforts and has collaborated with other government agencies and the US counterparts in the area to assist in the ongoing SAR operations,” Wescom said in a Facebook post.
“Eleven of the 28 survivors boarded the Philippine Air Force C-295 aircraft at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa City. The survivors were safely flown back to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to reunite with their respective families,” it added.
Other survivors have returned home via commercial flights while some, mostly M/Y Dream Keeper crew members, remained in Puerto Princesa City.
A Philippine Navy (PN) Britten Norman Islander aircraft, one US P-8 Poseidon and two V-22 Osprey took turns during aerial search sorties on Tuesday.
Another PN vessel, BRP Felix Apolinario (PC-395), departed Puerto Princesa City on the same day to augment BRP Carlos Albert (PC-375) in the ongoing SAR efforts.