The US Navy had also been in touch and was working on a documentary about the Lanikai, officials in Subic said.
"The boat itself is not very big, but this is a significant historical find, considering the mission given to Lanikai and that majority of its crew were Filipinos," Payumo said.
It also underscores the importance of Subic in US naval history, and by extension the former US colony the Philippines, which remains a staunch American military ally in the region, Payumo said.
The Filipino sailor's granddaughter, Noraida Jen Velarmino, a journalist, said the Lanikai was "an amazing discovery."
"Suddenly, we found ourselves retracing our rich family history," she said. "There are a lot of questions that are now just beginning to be answered."
She recalled that her grandfather, whom Tolley fondly called Cookie, used to tell her war stories, including how they would outsmart Japanese forces by pretending to be fishermen while American crew members hid under heavy fishing nets.
"What we are asking now is at least for the US government to give recognition to these 12 brave Filipinos," her father Jaime Velarmino said.
"These people were heroes," he said. "At least now, we can let the world know about their mission."
Master Divers, a private consortium based in Subic, headed by Australian Brian Homan discovered the Lanikai's remains lying at a depth of 40m in Subic's Nabasan bay. Homan has an extensive track record in recovering underwater treasures.
The National Museum authorized its refloating in an operation that used robotic machinery and underwater video cameras last year.
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