Ang Pahayagan

PALAWAN – Crew members of the Philippine Navy (PN) frigate BRP Antonio Luna rescued a Filipino fisher in a near-fatal accident in the waters near Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Commander Ariel Joseph Coloma, Western Command (Wescom) spokesman, said in an interview Monday that Sonny Agting’s leg was hit by the propeller of his boat as he was fishing on Sunday.

Coloma said the BRP Antonio Luna was conducting a routine maritime and sovereignty patrol not too far from the accident site and received a distress call from the crew of fishing boat FFB Camano 1, of which the 46-year-old Agting was a member.

Capt. Clyde Domingo, the skipper of the frigate, reported to Wescom headquarters that his crew changed their route and steered toward the fishing boat’s position immediately after receiving the call for help.

The Navy personnel then deployed a rigid inflatable boat carrying a rescue team to transfer Agting from his boat to their vessel for urgent medical attention.

“Despite our distance from the distressed fishing boat, we acted as fast as we could to provide immediate assistance to the injured Filipino fisherman,” Domingo said.

Doctors aboard the frigate then administered emergency medical care to Agting, while the ship quickly sailed back to mainland Palawan to deliver the patient to a hospital.

The fisherman was admitted to a hospital in mainland Palawan on Monday after a more-than-250-km. trip from Sabina Shoal. He is now in the company of family members.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz deployed, sets sail for Visayas

Meanwhile the Philippine Fleet’s Offshore Combat Force (OCF) sent BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16), a Del Pilar-class patrol ship, to the operational areas of Naval Forces Central on Monday, Sept. 18.

OCF Commander, Commo. Edward Ike De Sagon spearheaded the send-off of PS16’s officers and crew under the leadership of their commanding officer, Cmdr. Jim Aris Alagao at the NOB Subic.

This deployment came after the completion of the dry docking and other related repairs (DDORR) of PS16 which the OCF commander described in his remarks “as the culmination of one phase and the beginning of another – the responsibility to preserve the integrity of our territories and protect the country’s maritime interests.”

“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated men and women of PS16 and Offshore Combat Force who have tirelessly worked to ensure the readiness of our ship,” he added.

This activity fulfills the Fleet’s mission of deploying capable assets and trained personnel to various areas of operations to maintain naval presence and maritime security.

It also represents the Navy’s resolve to uphold territorial integrity, safe and secure seas, and regional stability. (Reports from PNA)

📸 SURVIVOR. Fisherman Sonny Agting is seen in this photo taken on Monday (Sept. 18, 2023) as he was being carried by the crew of BRP Antonio Luna on his way to a Palawan hospital. He was later declared in stable condition. (Top photo courtesy of the Western Command and Fleet PAO)