MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed K9 teams to assist in the rescue operations in Toledo City, Cebu after a mining pit collapsed.

Commander of the Coast Guard K9 Force Commodore Nelson Torre initially dispatched one K9 team that specializes in search and rescue (SAR) operations. The team was composed of four personnel and two working dogs.

“We have several SAR K9 teams on standby in Manila for further deployment, if necessary. We are already coordinating the issuance of their health clearances so they may safely and swiftly travel to Cebu right after augmentation request from the CDRRMO,” he said.

Additional K9 teams from the Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas arrived in Toledo City Tuesday evening (December 22). AAC

MANILA, Philippines – One person died while 22 others were rescued on Monday after a passenger motorbanca sank off the town of Atimonan in Quezon province, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

The PCG said the boat, Gesu de Bambino, was carrying 17 passengers and six crew members and was on its way to Perez town when it capsized around 12:30 p.m. on Monday.

The coast guard said the incident occurred after the boat encountered engine trouble and strong waves.

“One of the six crew members died due to drowning,” the PCG reported.

All 17 passengers were successfully rescued and were immediately brought to Alabat, Quezon for further assistance, it added.

The Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) K9 Force has celebrated the birthday of two of their rescue and explosive-detection dogs, Britney and Barley.

Both dogs are members of the Coast Guard Working Dogs (CGWDs).

Britney is a search and rescue dog and has been awarded the “Dog of the Year Unit Award” for two consecutive years. Barley, meanwhile, is an explosive detection dog.

Both CGWD Britney and CGWD Barley have been actively serving the PCG since 2016.

The PCG said the two dogs received dog food, vitamins, and medicines for deworming from the Local Government of Zamboanga. AAC