MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy on Tuesday said it assisted and rescued 24 passengers and crew members of a Philippine vessel which encountered engine failure off eastern Malaysia.
The ML Rihana encountered engine trouble and was left drifting 4.5 nautical miles northeast of Tagupi Island, Malaysia, on Friday, February 24.
The Navy said the Royal Malaysian Navy ship Todak first came to the rescue of ML Rihana assistance towed it to the anchorage area in Tanjung Labian, Malaysia.
The Joint Task Force Tawi Tawi then dispatched BRP Florencio Iñigo (PC393) to proceed to the current location of the distressed vessel in order to render necessary assistance.
“At 1:50 in the morning of Feb. 26, the distressed vessel was rescued and assisted by PC393,” the Navy said in a statement.
The ML Rihana was towed from Tanjung Labian to Lamion Wharf in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
The passengers and crew members were given medical attention right after being transferred to the Navy vessel and were turned over to the local government and Department of Social Welfare and Development-Tawi-Tawi for proper disposition. (with MJ Soriano, INQUIRER.net trainee)
