Amid sighting reports, 9 Panatag Shoal fishermen 'still nowhere to be found'

MANILA -- The nine fishermen who failed to return home from Panatag Shoal are still missing to date, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

The NDRRMC said the nine fishermen "are still nowhere to be found" but added that a search and rescue vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been dispatched to the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal.

The fishermen were reported missing since September 30 after they failed to return from their fishing venture off the disputed shoal.

The missing fishermen, who are mostly residents of Botolan, Zambales, were identified as Ricky Quidez, Mac Mac Quidez, Melbert Quidez, Joven Cervantes, Glen Reyes, Gardo Docusin, Rogelio Elesterio Sr., Joseph Valdez, and Bibiano Dela Peña III.

They reportedly called their relatives on October 11 and were allegedly within the southeastern part of the Panatag Shoal, according to the NDRRMC.

But the PCG earlier received a report that the nine fishermen and their damaged motorized banca were stranded in an inhabited area near Cabra Island, Occidental Mindoro.

However, the succeeding seaborne patrol operation that scoured the area yielded negative results. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)