RESCUED AT SEA. Escorted by Navy personnel, Amir Sarkarifari (with white baseball cap), who carries a Swedish and Iranian passports, arrives at the Naval Station Romulo Espladon in Zamboanga City. Sarkarifari was rescued Saturday (June 25, 2022) while aboard a malfunctioning yacht off Sibago Island, Mohammad Ajul town, Basilan. (Photo courtesy of Naval Forces Western Mindanao)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A foreigner was rescued drifting at sea near Basilan province after his yacht malfunctioned, a top military official said Tuesday.
Rear Admiral Toribio Adaci, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said Amir Sarkarifari, whose identity was established through his Swedish and Iranian passports, was rescued around 1:45 p.m. Saturday near Sibago Island, Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.
“The residents of the island (Sibago) noticed a yacht drifting towards their direction prompting them to approach the yacht and extend help,” Adaci said in a statement Tuesday.
He said the NFWM sent one of its Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (BA487) to Sibago Island and safely rescued Sarkarifari.
Sakarifari drifted to Basilan after the engine of the latter’s yacht malfunctioned while cruising from Guam to Brunei, the Navy official said.
The yacht was towed to the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in this city while Sarkarifari was subjected to a medical examination.
He said the Bureau of Immigration and other agencies have also conducted their own investigation to verify the foreigner's identity and his activities. (PNA)
