Ship's last missing passenger found

MANILA, Philippines - With the discovery of the decomposing body of an eight-month-old boy, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday terminated its search for the missing passengers and crewmen of the M/V Josille II, a wooden-hulled ship that sank off El Nido in Palawan last June 12.

In a statement, PCG spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said Palawan District commander Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista already ordered the termination of the search and rescue operation, which lasted for eight days.

Balilo said eight-month-old Mark Angelo Esmeria was the last remaining missing passenger of the ill-fated vessel.