(Update) 19 crew of sunken Panamanian vessel rescued

(Updated 11:25 a.m.) Hours after they were reported missing, 19 crew members of a Panamanian-registered cargo vessel that sank off Eastern Samar were rescued early Monday. Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said the 19 - four Koreans and 15 Filipinos - were rescued before 9 a.m. “Ayon sa report na natanggap namin, nakasakay na sila sa life raft. Yung life raft na sinasakyan nila nawalan ng power at tinatangay sa karagatan (We received report that they were on a life raft, which lost its power and was carried away by ocean current)," Balilo said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the Coast Guard has also requested the Philippine Air Force to send a chopper from Cebu to spot possible oil spill around the area where the ship had sunk. [See story: Panamian vessel sinks off Samar] The Coast Guard, in a report at 9 a.m. Monday, said its action center received a request for assistance from the Hong Kong Maritime Coordinating Center. It said the request was for a search-and-rescue operation for the Panama-registered MV Hera, some 11 nautical miles east of Hilaban Island in Samar. MV Hera, which had a gross tonnage of 6,836 and skippered by Korean Captain Gu Jauk, had four Korean and 15 Filipino crew members. The boat was reported taking in Water and listing. The ship was heading from Papua New Guinea to Jangiagang, China. “Per initial report received, one of the crew was able to call their office in Manila, stating that all the crew was able to board the lifeboat," the Coast Guard said. At 8:50 a.m., the fishing boat Pilano-3 with Coast Guard personnel towed the lifeboat of MV Hera off Sta. Monica village in Tubabao Island with four Korean nationals and 15 Filipinos on board. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard reported that 28 passengers of a motor boat were rescued off Basilan province after their vessel sank last weekend. The Coast Guard said the MB Minham sank off Maluso town in Basilan Province Saturday. Initial investigation showed the vessel was en route to Maluso when it encountered engine trouble and was battered by strong waves. Residents in Maluso rescued the 28 passengers on board. The Coast Guard said the 28 were all reported to be in good condition. Investigation also showed the unregistered motor boat departed at 9 a.m. from Jolo in Sulu without Coast Guard clearance. The Coast Guard in Jolo was directed to “take necessary action" against the operator of the boat, initially identified as Hadji Puntukan Hamsiraji. - GMANews.TV