By Mary Judaline Partlow
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) here will continue indefinitely its surface and coastal search for the British national who went missing after a dive in Dauin, Negros Oriental.
Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, PCG-Negros Oriental station commander, told the Philippine News Agency Friday that they received a directive to maximize their floating assets so the search could continue.
The Coast Guard entered the third day of search for 44-year-old Mark David Morris, who was last seen going for a dive at Poblacion District 1 on Tuesday afternoon.
“A high-speed response boat (HSRB) was deployed to Dauin and nearby areas for maritime patrol on Friday and will complement the available rubber boats of the Coast Guard and the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO),” Enopia said.
The HSRB was stationed in Basay town in the southernmost tip of the province to monitor smuggling activities, but is now expanding its coverage area as part of the search, she added.
Enopia said they also requested additional fuel allocation for the search operations.
The underwater search was terminated on Thursday afternoon as Coast Guard personnel needed rest after two days of scuba diving.
The MDRRMO rubber boat has to be manned by PCG personnel after its boatman suffered from sunburn following extended hours of exposure.
Volunteer scuba divers, however, continued their search-and-retrieval operations.
Coastal and seaborne patrols by nearby PCG stations will likewise continue. (PNA)
