A Philippine Navy rescue team on Thursday morning recovered 19 people, who went missing for two days after sailing off the mainland of Catanduanes province.

Commodore Joel Babas, commander of the Naval Forces in Southern Luzon, said their personnel on a Navy gunship recovered the 19 people from Gigmoto town, in the eastern part of Catanduanes island, around 11 a.m.

Babas said gunship BRP Hilario Ruiz was launched after the provincial disaster coordinating council sought the Navy's assistance to locate the missing people.

The 19 people were on board an unmarked motorized boat, which stalled while bound for Rapu Rapu town in Albay province. The boat left Barangay Binanwahan in Bato town, Catanduanes around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Babas said the boat's engine went dead and drifted off the coast of Gigmoto town. With a report from Noel Alamar, radio dzMM