MANILA (UPDATED) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has launched a search and rescue mission for an American and 5 other people who have been missing since Saturday in waters near Barangay Maloh in Siaton, Negros Oriental.
PCG spokesperson Commander Arman Balilo identified the six missing persons as Elmer Sabroso, Roseldo Andid, Rey Benetes, Jovie Fundador, Cristina Andid, and Bradley Fugate, an American. They were on board a 28-foot pumpboat that sailed on Friday.
According to Balilo, they got the information from PCG-Dumaguete after the boat owner reported that the six persons failed to return from their fishing trip last Friday.
PCG immediately dispatched BRP Batangas and a light utility aircraft to look for the victims.
The agency has also released a Notice to Mariner to inform other seafarers on the incident.
Local officials have coordinated with the local government units of Palawan and Malaysia, where the pumpboat may have strayed.
The US Embassy has also been notified about the missing American. -- reports from Noel Alamar, DZMM and Jude Torres, ABS-CBN News Central Visayas