PCG: As a result of ongoing search and rescue operations being conducted by joint SAR team of Coast Guard Station Northern Quezon, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Southern Luzon Command, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), and local volunteers, 166 were rescued, four confirmed casualties were retrieved and 7 remains missing when Motor Vessel (M/V) “Mercraft 3” sunk at 5 nautical miles away from the vicinity waters of Infanta, Quezon between Dinahican Point, Quezon and Agta Point, Polillo Island around 11:27A.M. today, December 21.

Said motor vessel departed Ungos Port around 09:00 A.M. enroute to Polillo Island with 251 passengers including the crew onboard. The identified M/V Mercraft 3 has gross tonnage of 206.27, net tonnage of 61.88 and capacity of 286 passengers.

Meanwhile, Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog Luzon coordinated with Southern Luzon Command in Lucena for the deployment of Navy assets. Likewise, the PCG will also conduct aerial surveillance on the said incident area.

Among rescued passengers transferred at Claro M Recto Memorial District Hospital is an identified Australian national Roland Kempt, a 61 years old resident of Pila, Laguna together with his wife.

As of press time, the PCG is focusing on the search and rescue operations and will immediately conduct investigations to identify the cause of the incident and to verify possible oil spills.