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Cargo vessel MV Sta. Monica-A1 was reported missing on October 27 2024. PCG Southern Tagalog/Facebook

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said it was possible that cargo vessel MV Sta Monica A1 managed to take shelter amid the onslaught of severe tropical storm Kristine. 

MV Sta. Monica was en route to Palawan island when it went missing near Occidental Mindoro on Oct. 27. Onboard were 10 crewmen and cargo of over 100 water buffalos.

"The possibility that it is sheltered has not been ruled out. Currently, it cannot contact the shipping company... Maybe their communication is broken," PCG spokesman commodore Algier Ricafrente said.

Ricafrente said the search continues until now, noting that no bodies have been found yet.

"So far, we don't see any bodies floating... Our search continues," he said.

Ricafrente said the PCG did not receive distress call from the vessel before it went missing.

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"Sa panig ng PCG walang natanggap na distress call ng barko na ito," he said.

The PCG spokesman also explained why the vessel was allowed to sail even amid the bad weather.

"The intention of the vessel, which is why it was allowed to sail, is to take shelter while the typhoon has not yet devastated the area where it came from... According to our information, the captain has decided that instead of sailing to the port, he will take shelter. them because they see that they are safer," he said.

"The Captain and PCG agreed that they might be hit by bad weather so they took shelter. That's what they're doing," he added.

According to reports, MV Sta. Monica-A1, owned by Synergy Sea Venture Inc., departed from Sta. Cruz Port, Taytay, Palawan, and was en route to Casia to seek shelter due to adverse weather conditions.

In an earlier post, PCG Southern Tagalog cited reports of fishermen sighting alleged cadavers, dead animals, and other floating objects near Paluan.

Representatives of Synergy Sea Venture Inc. have coordinated with the PCG for updates, and search operations will persist, weather and sea conditions permitting.