RESCUED. Navy personnel of BRP-Florencio Iñigo rescue eight people aboard a distressed vessel at sea on Tuesday (Nov. 22, 2022) near Tawi-Tawi’s island town of Sibutu. All rescued individuals are found to be in good health condition when examined by the Naval Task Group-Tawi-Tawi medical support team. (Photo courtesy of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Personnel of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao have rescued eight people aboard a wooden-hulled vessel in distress off Tawi-Tawi, officials said Wednesday.
Lieutenant Senior Grade Chester Ross Cabaltera, NFWM information officer, said M/L Rihana was rescued shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday near the island town of Sibutu.
The NFWM’s Naval Task Group (NTG)-Tawi-Tawi immediately dispatched BRP-Florencio Iñigo (PC-393) following a call from the Littoral Monitoring Station-Bongao which earlier received a report from a concerned civilian on M/L Rihana drifting at sea.
Cabaltera said the investigation showed that M/L Rihana's engine malfunctioned after it was battered by big waves while traveling from the municipality of Turtle Islands to Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi.
M/L Rihana was loaded with eight people including its skipper, Abdulmar Mai.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, NTG-Tawi-Tawi commander, said BRP-Florencio Iñigo towed M/L Rihana to Lamion wharf in Bongao where the eight rescued individuals were provided medical assistance by the NTG's medical support team.
“This (rescue) is part of our mandate to render humanitarian assistance and disaster response in times of emergency,” he said.
Racadio, who is also the commander of the Joint Task Force-Tawi-Tawi and 2nd Marine Brigade, said those rescued were found to be in good medical condition and were later fetched by their respective relatives. (PNA)
