Six Rescued from Engine-troubled Speedboat

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that three Filipino and three foreign nationals were rescued by the after their speedboat encountered engine trouble on the waters of Barangay Bitaogon, Surigao City, March 4.

The passengers, of Filipino, Canadian and Swedish nationalities, were onboard speedboat Sea Hunt when it encountered engine problems. Johan Maloto, third officer of an undetermined vessel, informed Coast Guard Station (CGS) Surigao that Sea Hunt, owned and skippered by Michael Briman was in distress.

Upon verification of the report, CGS Surigao deployed the personnel of Coast Guard Sub Station (CGSS) Socorro onboard M/L Mollameda, skippered by Rico Alabat, for the conduct of search and rescue operations.

Due to unfavorable weather condition, however, the SAR team temporarily suspended the operations with negative result. The following day, motor pumpboat Jaymart, skippered by Capt. Randy Tomines, was able to assist the distressed speed boat and towed it back to Surigao City Boulevard.

According to Snooky Eder, a friend of one of the passengers, Sea Hunt departed Siargo Island for Surigao City around 9:20 p.m. March 3.