Search for man who fell overboard ongoing — PCG

The search for a 26-year-old resident of Iloilo City who fell into the waters off Batangas on 31 October is ongoing, the Philippine Coast Guard said Wednesday.

The PCG identified the passenger who fell from the MV Maligaya as Ralph Bernard Gerona. It is believed he went overboard at around 3:50 p.m. near Calatagan.

The MV Maligaya is a passenger-cargo vessel with a gross tonnage of 29.05 and net 12.56.

The PCG said the vessel was en route from Manila to Bacolod and had 126 crew members and 425 passengers on board when the incident occurred.

The Coast Guard immediately alerted the Vessel Traffic Management Service in Corregidor and Batangas, the Coast Guard Substation in Calatagan and Lubao Island, and Sea Marshall personnel on board the MV Maligaya.

The MV Solid Sun, which was nearby, also assisted in the search.