Navy Responded to a Call after Boats Collide

LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Friday,25 December 2009

Navy alerts anew its search and rescue response teams to take action to a disaster call from a collision between M/B Catalyn B and F/V Anatalia at vicinity 4 kilometer northwest of Limbones Island, Cavite yesterday. Forty-six others have been rescued, twenty-four are still reportedly missing, while there are three who were recovered.

Naval Disaster Response Task Unit-National Capital Region(NDRTU-NCR) has been organized to formally undertake the search and rescue mission headed by COMMO JOSE MIGUEL S RODRIGUEZ AFP. Navy’s BRP Sulpicio Fernandez (PG853) with full complement of 3 officers and 15 crew and 2 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat from the Naval Special Operations Group had been in the search area for two days now to assist the Philippine Coast Guard. Two Naval vessels, BRP Dagupan City(LC551) and BRP Iloilo(PS 32), also proceeded in the area. Likewise, Navy Aircrafts PNI 312 and PNH 421 took off from Naval Base Heracleo Alano and help out in the search and rescue. A medical team from Cavite Naval Hospital (CNH) was also augmented to render assistance to those who are in need of medical attention and care.

A series of tragedies have struck the Philippines over recent months and this is another painful incident that befell our countrymen, especially this Christmas. But as the nation is being confronted by these challenges, your Philippine Navy units remain organized, equipped and are suited for deployment at a moment’s notice. Your Navy works and performs even non-combat roles hand-in-hand with other government and non-government agencies to help our countrymen in need.