The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday that two of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites are being used to aid in the search and rescue operations for a capsized dive yacht in Tubbataha, Palawan.
“Three U.S. air assets stationed in Antonio Bautista Air Base, Puerto Princesa, and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu are being utilized to help in the ongoing mission to find four (4) missing Filipino divers after their boat sunk in Tubbataha on April 30,” the AFP said in a statement.
According to the AFP, the utilization of the EDCA sites for the combined inter-agency efforts between the United States and the Philippines was carried out at the request of the government.
The M/V Dream Keeper reportedly sank early Sunday morning, in Tubbataha, Palawan, based on the report released by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The PCG said that 32 people were on board the yacht when the incident happened, as of Monday, 28 were rescued and moved to Puerto Princesa while four are still missing including the yacht owner, the dive master, and two passengers.
In the preliminary report, a squall or a sudden violent gust of wind caused the main cause of the sinking of the dive boat.
The PCG said is also observed an oil sheen near the area where the boat sank but said it was no cause for alarm.