Press Release No. 155-03
10 April 2003

JAPANESE COAST GUARD SUSPENDS OFFICIAL SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS FOR MV 'MAHLIA' ; 7 CREWMEN STILL MISSING

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo reported that Japanese authorities have closed their headquarters for the team involved in the search operations for the missing 7 crewmen of the Philippine flag vessel MV "Mahlia," which sank in Japanese waters last February.

The Japanese Coast Guard, together with the Japanese Self-Defense Force, have been searching for signs of the missing Filipino crewmen for over three days utilizing a total of 10 patrol ships and 12 aircraft.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople had earlier instructed the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo to work with the Japanese authorities regarding the missing 7 Filipino seamen. Philippine Ambassador Domingo L. Siazon Jr. and Philippine Consul General for Osaka Antonio Villamayor are both coordinating with Japanese authorities in their search and rescue efforts. Both foreign service posts continue to gather information from the Japanese Coast Guard.

"It saddens me that, despite the relentless efforts of the Japanese Coast Guard and Self-Defense Forces, they have been unable to retrieve the 7 missing Filipino crewmen," Secretary Ople said. "On behalf of the families of these crewmen and our country, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the men and women of the Japanese Coast Guard and Self-Defense Forces who were involved in the search and rescue operations."

The ill fated MV 'Mahlia' was supposed to arrive in Batangas City Port on 3 March 2003. It departed from Onomichi Port Hiroshima Prefecture. The 217.14 ton vessel had a crew of 8 Filipinos and, so far, only one, identified as Chief Engineer Nilo A. Macasling has been found.  Macasling was found in a safety bag by another Philippine cargo vessel, the M/V Asian Dynasty. Mr. Macasling was brought to the Kagoshima City on 25 February where he recuperated. He was repatriated on 1 March.

Although the Japanese Coast Guard closed their headquarters for the search and rescue operations, they are still on the lookout for the missing crew in the course of their regular patrols. - END