The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has stepped up air and sea operations for four fishers who went missing Feb. 9 while heading toward waters off Ambil and Lubang Islands in Occidental Mindoro, the agency reported Wednesday.
The Coast Guard Sub-Station in Lian, Batangas received a distress call around 3 p.m. on Feb. 9 after the group failed to return home. The fishers, all residents of Barangay Luyahan in Lian, left at 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 and were expected back by 7 a.m. the next day.
The missing were identified as Rolando Ularte, 62; Rodolfo Ularte, 59; Geoffrey Buenaventura, 30; and Mark Julian Dones, 30. They were aboard the motorbanca MJ2, painted green and red, with SSEN Number STL-BAT-030525-015602.
Aerial search efforts are being conducted using PCG BN Islander 251, while surface operations involve the 44-meter multi-role response vessel BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409). Coastal patrols are ongoing with coordination from CGSS Lubang, CGSS Nasugbu, and local communities.
The PCG has also issued radio alerts to fishing boats and commercial vessels passing near Lubang Island to report any sightings of the missing motorbanca.
Commodore Geronimo B. Tuvilla, commander of Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog, said teams are deploying all available resources and maintaining close coordination with local maritime communities to widen the search area.
Authorities urged residents and fisherfolk to stay alert and report any information to the nearest Coast Guard station or through official PCG hotlines.