DOTC-PCG: A 27-year old male passenger remains missing after he jumped over a passenger/cargo vessel that was plying the vicinity waters of Carabao Island and Boracay Island yesterday, February 3.

The victim identified as Adonis P. Recio, 27 years old and a resident of Bago Bantay, Quezon City, was last seen by another passenger on the starboard side of the weather deck of MV Starlite Atlantic where he reportedly jumped overboard around 3:30AM.

The man overboard message was immediately relayed at the bridge of MV Starlite Atlantic where Capt. Sheila Picpican reported the incident to Coast Guard Station (CGS) Caticlan.

The personnel of CGS Caticlan dispatched its Deployable Response Team (DRT) which scoured the waters between Carabao and Boracay Island. The team also coordinated with Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Looc and CGSS Santa Fe regarding the incident.

MV Starlite Atlantic likewise conducted a search and rescue operation together with MV Super Shuttle Ferry 18 along the area for possible recovery of Recio but yielded negative result.

After two hours of SAR operations, MV Starlite Atlantic resumed with its voyage to Caticlan Jetty Port to unload rolling cargoes and passengers.

The Coast Guard then advised Capt. Picpican to file a marine protest relative to the incident.