- Navy rescues 10, including one overboard, off Davao Gulf
NAVAL Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) personnel rescued 10 individuals during back-to-back maritime emergencies off the waters of Panacan, Davao City, on Sunday evening, July 26, 2026.
The emergency response saved a man who fell overboard from his motor vessel, as well as nine individuals aboard a tourist craft stranded at sea due to engine failure.
The operation began at approximately 7:30 p.m. after NFEM received a distress call from the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reporting a man overboard near Panacan.
NFEM immediately deployed Boat Attack Craft BA489 to conduct search and rescue operations and spotted the victim floating unconscious.
Naval rescue swimmers deployed life rings and retrieved the victim, bringing him safely to the shoreline of Naval Station Felix Apolinario with support from a Philippine Coast Guard rubber boat team.
Standby medics from the Davao City 911 Ambulance Service immediately administered emergency care and transported the victim to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for further medical treatment.
Authorities identified the rescued man as Mark Sabate, a resident of Purok 18-A, Barangay Panacan.
While completing Sabate’s rescue, the crew of BA489 spotted a second motor banca, MB UCP, drifting nearby in distress.
The vessel, carrying eight passengers and its boat captain, had suffered engine failure while en route to Vanishing Island for a recreational trip.
Naval personnel secured all nine occupants and towed MB UCP to Captain Feranil Pier inside Naval Station Felix Apolinario.
The passengers were brought to the Camp Panacan Station Hospital for medical evaluation and assistance before being safely transported back to their residences.
Commodore Ireneo D. Battung, Commander of NFEM, commended the rapid response of the naval crews and highlighted the seamless inter-agency coordination between the Navy, the Davao City Government, CDRRMO, City 911, and the Coast Guard.
“The successful rescue operation underscores the unwavering commitment of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao to safeguarding lives at sea and maintaining a high state of readiness in responding to maritime emergencies,” NFEM said in an official statement.
Naval and Coast Guard units in the Davao Gulf continue to maintain heightened vigilance and maritime safety patrols across Eastern Mindanao waters.
