DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                        2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                     Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-636-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                             26 July 2006

Philippine Consulate General, san francisco reports 13 
filipino sailors rescued off alaska coast, all safe 

26 July 2006 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, USA reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that 13 Filipinos were among 23 crewmembers of the Singapore-based container ship “MV Cougar Ace” that were rescued by US Coast Guard helicopter units in the evening of 23 July 2006 after the ship took in water and leaked fuel about 240 miles south of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. 

Mr. Wilfredo C. Santos, acting Head of the Philippine Consulate General, said that he spoke with Mr. Tom Reuter of the US Rescue Coordination Center in Anchorage, Alaska on 25 July 2006, who said the rescue operation ended late in the evening of 24 July 2006, when the 23 rescued crewmembers including the 13 Filipinos were brought to safety in Adak in the Aleutian Islands. 

Mr. Reuter also informed the Consulate that there were no reports of any casualty or injury other than a broken leg suffered by a crewmember from Myanmar.  The 13 Filipino crewmen were then brought from Adak on 25 July 2006 to Anchorage where they were being documented by authorities of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Mr. Edmundo A. Mangubat, the Consulate’s Assistance-to-Nationals Officer, likewise spoke with US ICE officials at the Stevens International Airport in Anchorage who informed him that the 13 Filipino crewmembers will be transferred to a lodging place where they will await the decision of the ship owners on the arrangements for the ship’s crew.  

Mr. Mangubat also spoke with Mr. Edgar Lemuel Camarillo, Third Officer and highest-ranking Filipino of the Cougar Ace, who confirmed that they were 13 Filipinos who were aboard the vessel and that all of them were rescued and arrived safely in Anchorage.  Mr. Camarillo also informed Mr. Mangubat that they were able to contact their families in the Philippines and inform them of that they are all safe.  Mr. Mangubat added that almost all of the Filipino crewmembers were able to bring only their documents when they were rescued.  Mr. Mangubat then assured Mr. Camarillo that the Consulate was ready to assist them in their travel documents. 

Mr. Santos further informed the Department that the Consulate immediately sought the assistance of Ms. Elsa Sargento, a Filipino community leader in Anchorage, who offered to help the Filipino seafarers.  

Mr. Santos assured the Department that the Consulate is closely coordinating with US authorities on the consular services for the Filipino seafarers.  He will inform the Department of new developments.  END

/gary

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