CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The Philippine Coast Guard, in coordination with the police, has stepped up the search for an on-the-job-trainee who went missing while on board a vessel plying the Mindoro-Batangas sea route.

Lt. Atanasio Lucky Barba, acting station commander of PCG-Oriental Mindoro, said he has deployed teams across coastal areas in Oriental Mindoro to coordinate with local government units (LGUs)  and other government agencies and advise fisherfolk on any possible sightings of the missing student as investigation and search efforts are ongoing.

Barba identified the trainee as Aivan R. Montalan, 20, a resident of Barangay Panggulayan in the town of Pinamalayan in central Oriental Mindoro.

Montalan is a Tourism student at Saint Mark Arts and Training Institute Inc. in Barangay Camilmil, Calapan City, pursuing a maritime career.

Barba said Montalan was last seen at Calapan Port, Barangay San Antonio, Calapan City, on Monday, March 3, while on duty on board motor vessel (MV) Trans-Asia 20, a passenger vessel under Starlite Corp.

The PCG reported that according to the Shipboard Training Officer of MV Trans-Asia, Montalan failed to report for duty during the muster at around 6 a.m. on March 4 and was nowhere to be found onboard.

His fellow OJTs last saw him around 8 p.m. on March 3 lying on his bed after the vessel departed Batangas port at 7 p.m.

He was last observed at approximately 10 p.m. while the vessel was maneuvering to dock at Calapan Port, the PCG said.

His family declared him missing after nearly 24 hours of no contact after which Aileen Montalan, sister, contacted PCG-Oriental Mindoro and reported that her brother had been unreachable since 9 p.m. March 3.

Police Lt. Col. Roden Fulache, chief of the Calapan City Police Station, said the victim’s uncle, Gilbert Morta, and personnel from Saint Marks proceeded to the port to locate the trainee but were not able to find him even after reviewing the CCTV footage.