MANILA -- The Philippine Navy on Thursday deployed a helicopter to search for 11 missing passengers of two motorboats that capsized off Palawan province.

Commodore Alan Javier, the commander of the Philippine Naval Forces West, said the boats sank on Wednesday near Ilian Bay in Roxas, a coastal town northeast of Palawan's capital Puerto Princesa.

"Despite challenging conditions, the Naval Forces remains resolute in its commitment to locating the missing motorized boats and ensuring the safety of its passengers," Javier added.

He said the ongoing search and rescue operations involved personnel from various agencies.