29 Chinese tourists rescued off Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol-Twenty-nine Chinese tourists were rescued on Thursday afternoon after their motorbanca encountered engine trouble while in the waters off Balicasag Island in Bohol.

The group was on board MBCA Josieme for a tour of the island when the engine conked out, said Seaman 1st Class Jacob Pacaña of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Tagbilaran station.

He said a team was dispatched to Balicasag, a famous dive site, after the Coast Guard received a call for assistance from Janel Demesa of the Chinese Consulate.

MBCA Josieme was sighted between the vicinity waters of Siquijor and Balicasag Island at 12:15 p.m., said Pacaña.

The motorboat was then towed with the 29 Chinese passengers and three Filipino crew men on board, said Pacaña.

“No one was hurt,” he said.

PCG issued a Maritime Violation Report and detained the motorbanca at Poblacion Panglao for not complying with safety standards.

Pacaña said they noticed that the banca was not equipped with communication gadgets and life jackets.

It also had no pertinent Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) documents.