Ten Chinese tourists aboard a motor boat, which reportedly sank during an excursion in Panglao island have been rescued and brought to safety, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

The PCG headquarters in Manila identified the boat with the tourists as “Mbca Isla de Fuego.”
The tourists were rescued by a motorboat named “Brent” when it passed the ill-fated pumpboat near Be Resort in Panglao Island.  The Mbca Isla de Fuego had departed from the Port of Enrique Villanueva in Siquijor, when it encountered big waves causing the boat to sink.

Coast Guard Station Tagbilaran was notified about the maritime incident by the Tourist Police in Panglao.

Passengers of the sunken boat were identified as Yang Xiao Yan, 45;. Xin Yi, 28; Zhou Lee, 25;. Xu Ming Yu, 42; Xin Li Yu, 50; You Yun Xian, 52;. Du Hui Zeng, 50; Mao Zhi Qian, 51; Wang Lei, 39; and Shao Dan, 35.

PCG said that Mbca Brent spotted the foreigners and plucked them from sea. They were later brought to their hotel, Panglao Regent Hotel and Cliff Side Resort.

The sunken boat was skippered by Mark Lee Rosales and his boat man was Leebert Bomongcag, both residents of Bitaog, Enrique Villanueva.

An investigation of PCG found that Mbca Isla de Fuego sailed without the required documents. It was issued a Maritime Violation Receipt (MVR) for such violation. PCG detained the boat at 100 meters off Bluewater-Panglao Resort after it was retrieved.