US Sends Navy Ship To Assist M/V Princess Rescue

US sends navy ship to assist in search and rescue of victims of M/V Princess -- Palace

Manila, June 23 (PNA) -- The United States government has sent its navy ship here to assist the authorities in its search and rescue operations in the waters off Sibuyan Island where M/V Princess of the Stars sank.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, who is currently in Washington D.C. with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in a text message on Monday, said US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney just informed him that a US Navy Ship is now on its way towards Sibuyan Island where the incident happened.

"The US vessel is expected to be on site within the next 15 hours and will assist authorities in its search and rescue operations," he said.

Dureza said the President, who just landed in Washington D.C., has been closely monitoring the situation in the Philippines who just experienced the onslaught of typhoon "Frank" (international codename: Fengshen).

He said President Arroyo has called for a meeting with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), at 3 p.m. (Manila time), together with the Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Energy (DoE), and Education (DepEd); and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to get updates on the rehabilitation and relief assistance to typhoon victims.

She again will be conducting another meeting at 6 p.m. Monday (Manila time) -- either via teleconference or video conference -- with the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Health (DoH); Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), and the PCG.

-- By Lilybeth G. Ison

ENDS

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