Naval assets deployed to search for missing fishermen

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 11): Naval assets deployed to search for missing fishermen

Vessels and aircraft of the Philippine Navy are deployed to conduct search operations for hundreds of missing fisherman, nearly a week after typhoon Pablo hit a huge area in Southern Mindanao. Captain Robert Empedrad Commander of the Joint Task Force Maritime Search and Rescue, the Philippine Navy has deployed four ships and two islander aircraft for the search of an estimated 300 fishers mostly tuna catchers who remains unaccounted for. Among the vessels are the Patrol Ships BRP Miguel Malvar (PS 19), BRP Iloilo (PS 32) along with patrol crafts BRP Salvador Abcede(PG 114) and BRP Felix Apolinario (PG 395).

Empedrad said that the vessels have covered a wide swath of maritime area as he cited that PS 32 is already patrolling 100 nautical miles from land. The Navy’s two Islander aircraft have conducted four search sorties reaching as far as Indonesian airspace to look for the fishermen. Empedrad said that they have gotten clearance to proceed into Indonesian airspace. Empedrad said that Indonesia has also been helpful in the search with one Indonesian Navy vessel conducting the search within their territorial waters, he said that with clearance from the Indonesian Navy, some Philippine Navy ships will be crossing into Indonesian waters to help look for the missing fishermen who were caught in the huge typhoon.

Another Philippine Navy vessel is also expected to be deployed in the region to reinforce the search and rescue fleet while they are also asking for one more air asset to replace one Navy Islander plane which is due for mandatory check-up. Aside from the Navy, three vessels from the Philippine Coast Guard alongside fishing vessels from General Santos City are assisting in the SAR efforts. So far according to the Philippine Navy figures, as of Dec. 11 they have rescued 13 people and recovered 34 cadavers washed out to sea.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1541355210519