Marine troops rescue 12 people from distressed boat in Tawi-Tawi

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Nine passengers, including a 4-year-old toddler, and three crew members were rescued Monday from a distressed motor launch on the high seas of Bongao town, Tawi-Tawi.

Brigadier General Romeo Racadio, commander of Task Force Tawi-Tawi, said personnel of the 3rd Boat Attack Division rescued the 12 people off Pababag Island as their vessel, ML Suratulya, had engine trouble.

The rescued passengers identified as Roaida Sabdani, 63; Jhuddin Sabdani, 42; Marry Joy Boncales Sabdani, 38; Shamarah Sabdani, 4; Ralph Vincent Sabdani, 18; Kayle D Sabdani, 20; Amy Burugan, 27; Sitti Mariam Tandiko, 22; and Bernie Giray Ambay, 34, were all from Barangay Tubig Indangan of Simunul town, Tawi-Tawi but are residing in the Visayas.

The rescued crew includes Romulo Colecio, 33, Jhuddin Mohammadalah, 23, and Gordo Mali, 40, from Tubig Indangan.

Racadio said the passengers were visiting their relatives in Simunul Island and were on their way back to Bongao for their flight to Cebu. As the vessel’s engine conked out, it drifted off Pababag Island, Racadio explained.

All rescued passengers and crew were given medical assistance, after which they were ferried to their destinations, while the water vessel was left ashore and would be repaired once the weather improved, Racadio added.

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