ALL SAFE. Marine troops rescue 13 people from a small boat that catches fire Sunday (May 15, 2022) while traveling from Sapa-Sapa town to Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi. All passengers were found to be in good physical condition and turned over to their relatives in Bongao town. (Photo courtesy of JTF Tawi-Tawi)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Marine troops under the Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi rescued 13 people from a small boat that caught fire off Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi, a top military official said Monday.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Tawi-Tawi commander, said the victims were rescued around 10:40 a.m. Sunday between the islands of Mantabuan and Banaran in the municipality of Sapa-Sapa following a report from a resident.
Racadio said a fire rescue team onboard Speedboat Fiber 10 (SBF-10), together with the crew from the 82nd Marine Company coordinated with the municipal government of Sapa-Sapa for the search and rescue operation.
“Not only were the troops had a role in the rescue efforts, even the civilians in the area lend a hand to the military counterparts,” said Racadio, who is also the 2nd Marine Brigade commander.
The victims were on the way to Bongao coming from Sapa-Sapa when their boat caught fire.
Rescued were Sukarno Maring, 72; Nelson Tayting, 50; Nenyang Tayting, 45; Sitti Selfa Maring, 37; Nurfaiza Maring, 31; Salizada Maring, 27; Ridwan Maring, 21; and six minors.
The victims were ferried to the wharf of Barangay Lamion, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi where they were provided with medical assistance facilitated by the Forward Support Medical Team of the Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi.
All rescued individuals were found to be in good physical condition and were later turned over to their relatives in Bongao municipality. (PNA)
