78 passengers rescued from drifting ship

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Seventy-eight passengers of a seagoing vessel were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday after drifting for three days in the waters off Palawan.

The PCG Palawan station said the M/L April Joy developed engine trouble shortly after it left Palawan for Zamboanga City last Tuesday.

The ship was escorted by the PCG search and rescue vessel, BRP Nueva Viscaya 1, until it arrived at the port here on Sunday.

Cmdr. Allan Corpuz, commander of the BRP Nueva Viscaya 1, said the vessel’s captain Mufti Ibno Hassan, sent distress calls picked up by ships sailing between Palawan and Dumaguete. 

Corpuz said the April Joy was found near Mangsi Island off Palawan, some 100 nautical miles from Zamboanga City.

He said the passengers suffered from dehydration and dizziness.