6 persons who went missing at sea in Sulu found alive in Tawi-Tawi after 9 days

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur–Six persons who went missing while traveling on a pump boat from Isabela City, Basilan to Jolo, Sulu last Dec. 29 were rescued at sea on Friday night.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said the six missing persons were “all found alive and located in Tawi-Tawi.”

“We received reports in Sulu that six missing persons were found and they just lost direction in going to Sulu,” Vinluan added.

Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman confirmed Vinluan’s announcement.

“They were found around 10 p.m. last night (Friday) at sea. They ran out of fuel and they also lost direction,” said Hataman, who earlier asked the help of the Philippine Coast Guard to widen the search in Sulu.

Hataman added that the six are now reunited with their families in Jolo.

The six, including three minors, sailed to Jolo at 6 a.m. on Dec. 29. With their three-engine pump boat, it could have only taken them up to five hours to reach Jolo but their families reported on Dec. 30 that they have not yet arrived there.

The trip was led by Rasir Sawadjaan, 61, a retired Army sergeant. Joining him were his 29-year-old wife, Junaida and their 4-year-old son, his nephew Marvin Allani, 12, boat operators Al Hakim Usman, 25, and Jasim Malahid, 14.

Nusul Usman, chief of Marang-Marang village in Isabela City, brought to Hataman’s attention last Thursday the fate of the six persons.

CFC