Report Tragedy at Sea: Human Trafficking Victim Dies in Boat Mishap Off Palawan

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Picture courtesy of Manila Bulletin

 

In a tragic incident highlighting the dangers of human trafficking, a motorboat carrying 11 individuals capsized off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, resulting in the death of a suspected trafficking victim. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) provided details about the June 8 incident involving the motorbanca known as MBCA Kumpit, which was believed to be en route to Malaysia with prospects of illegal employment.

 

Accelerating the urgency of the issue, the PCG disclosed on June 10 that the ill-fated vessel was transporting nine passengers, suspected to be victims of human trafficking, along with two crew members. The vessel overturned due to strong waves near Canibugan Island in Balabac, Palawan.

 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims, hailing from various Philippine cities such as Olongapo, Calamba, Cavite, Las Piñas, Tondo, and Cebu, were misled by promises of lucrative jobs in Malaysia. They were first brought to Puerto Princesa City, where a white van transported them to a coastal embarkation point after a gruelling seven-hour drive.

 

During the journey, MBCA Kumpit encountered engine troubles, leaving it adrift. In a desperate attempt to procure help, the boat’s skipper jumped into the water but did not return. The remaining individuals clung to the vessel in hopes of rescue. Tragically, an unidentified woman from Cavite succumbed to the sea and drowned.

 

Rescue efforts yielded a mixed outcome. Seven victims and a crew member were saved by local fishermen and citizens in various parts of Palawan. However, two individuals remain missing—the boat’s skipper, a local of Balabac, and another trafficking victim, whose identity remains unknown.

 

The PCG has actively pursued recovery operations, deploying BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) and a high-speed response boat to locate the missing individuals. Moreover, intelligence gathered from the survivors triggered a follow-up operation in Bataraza, revealing another group of ten individuals poised for illegal transport to Malaysia. Labelled as tourists, this second group was intercepted and rescued in Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan.

 

To prevent future tragedies, PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, has issued directives to intensify coastal monitoring and seaborne patrols, particularly at suspected human trafficking embarkation points. These efforts are being coordinated with local authorities to fortify checkpoint operations and thwart illegal departures.

 

Moreover, the PCG, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP), has launched an investigation to authenticate the accounts of the first group of survivors and to uncover the broader connections to human trafficking operations in Palawan. This incident starkly underscores the perilous plight of those entrapped in trafficking schemes and highlights the critical need for sustained vigilance and enforcement to combat such crimes.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Manila Bulletin 2025-06-11