9 more crewmen rescued from Ro-Ro boat stranded in Batangas

Nine more crewmembers of a roll-on-roll-off vessel that was stranded off Batangas province was rescued on Saturday — three days after the sea vessel got stuck in the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. A PCG helicopter airlifted the nine remaining crewmembers of the MV Lolo Uwing before sunset on Saturday, a bulletin posted on the Coast Guard’s website on Saturday night said. The crewmembers were transported to Manila aboard a plane, the PCG added. The MV Lolo Uwing was stranded at sea some 8.5 nautical miles south of Loco Loco Point in San Juan, Batangas Thursday. At least 12 other crewmembers had been earlier rescued on Friday. PCG Aviation Group commander Commodore Aaron Reconquista said all the passengers are in good physical condition. Investigation showed the MV Lolo Uwing developed engine trouble after encountering very rough sea conditions. While it dropped anchor, the anchor got entangled with the chain of a navigational buoy. Three ships headed for the area, including one from the Coast Guard, one from the Navy and the distressed vessel's sister ship.—With Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV