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ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/20 May) – The Philippine Coast Guard rescued on Saturday a wooden-hulled ferry loaded with 78 people, including 20 children, in distress off Palawan, a PCG official said.
Rescued by the PCG’s BRP-Nueva Vizcaya-I was M/L April Joy, which plies the Zamboanga City-Palawan route.
Commander Allan Corpuz, BRP-Nueva Vizcaya skipper, said Monday over a local television station they rescued M/L April Joy in the vicinity of Mangsee Island, Balabac, Palawan.
Paterson Jainuddin, the owner of M/L April Joy, disclosed they departed on Wednesday in Balabac en route to this city when the vessel’s engine conked out beyond repair.
Corpuz said M/L April Joy, which is skippered by Ibno Hassan, had lost radio contact and was drifting at sea for three days already at the time it was rescued.
The rescued ferry was towed by the BRP-Nueva Vizcaya and arrived late Sunday at a private wharf in this city.
Meanwhile, Corpuz said they were taking custody of M/L April Joy after learning that it was transporting passengers and cargoes without the required permits. (MindaNews)