Manila Bulletin
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PCG turns to retrieval of 4 missing passengers of sunken M/Y Dream Keeper
Philippines
National
PCG turns to retrieval of 4 missing passengers of sunken M/Y Dream Keeper
PCG turns to retrieval of 4 missing passengers of sunken M/Y Dream Keeper
Published May 8, 2023 04:15 am
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) revealed Monday, May 8, that it has shifted its operations from rescue to retrieval of the four missing passengers of the sunken dive yacht M/Y Dream Keeper.
(M/Y Dream Keeper / Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard) In a statement, the PCG said that the Coast Guard District Palawan terminated its week-long rescue operations and turned to search and retrieval operations for the missing owner of the yacht, two guests, and one dive master. “The directive took effect yesterday [Sunday], 07 May 2023. The PCG District Palawan shall assist the contracted salvor in conducting the retrieval operation,” the PCG said. The shift to retrieval operations indicated that the PCG’s hope of finding the missing passengers alive gets slimmer by the day. Prior to this, the wife of one of the missing passengers wrote a letter to the Manila Bulletin as she offered a [P5 million reward](https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/5/p5-m-reward-offered-to-find-missing-chinese-passenger-of-sunken-dive-yacht) to anyone who could provide information on the whereabouts of his husband’s remains. “Please help us look for the body of Yang Dengke and as a reward, we are willing to give P5,000,000 [to] whoever can help us find or give any information,” said one Chloe Chou, who introduced herself as the wife of the 37-year-old Chinese passenger. M/Y Dream Keeper sank off Tubbataha Reef in Cagayancillo, Palawan on April 30 while carrying 32 passengers and crew members who were supposed to go diving in the famed tourist attraction, Tubbataha Reefs. Twenty-eight of the passengers, including four Chinese, were rescued while four others went missing.
(M/Y Dream Keeper / Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard) In a statement, the PCG said that the Coast Guard District Palawan terminated its week-long rescue operations and turned to search and retrieval operations for the missing owner of the yacht, two guests, and one dive master. “The directive took effect yesterday [Sunday], 07 May 2023. The PCG District Palawan shall assist the contracted salvor in conducting the retrieval operation,” the PCG said. The shift to retrieval operations indicated that the PCG’s hope of finding the missing passengers alive gets slimmer by the day. Prior to this, the wife of one of the missing passengers wrote a letter to the Manila Bulletin as she offered a [P5 million reward](https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/5/p5-m-reward-offered-to-find-missing-chinese-passenger-of-sunken-dive-yacht) to anyone who could provide information on the whereabouts of his husband’s remains. “Please help us look for the body of Yang Dengke and as a reward, we are willing to give P5,000,000 [to] whoever can help us find or give any information,” said one Chloe Chou, who introduced herself as the wife of the 37-year-old Chinese passenger. M/Y Dream Keeper sank off Tubbataha Reef in Cagayancillo, Palawan on April 30 while carrying 32 passengers and crew members who were supposed to go diving in the famed tourist attraction, Tubbataha Reefs. Twenty-eight of the passengers, including four Chinese, were rescued while four others went missing.