ZAMBOANGA CITY—Ten people —eight Malaysians and two Filipinos —were rescued while adrift at sea off Tawi-Tawi province, the Navy reported on Monday. Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, commander of the Naval Task Group (NTG)-Tawi-Tawi and Joint Task Force (JTF)-Tawi-Tawi, said the seafarers were rescued Saturday by Falcon Triumph, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, and High Adventure, a Panama-flagged tanker.
Falcon Triumph radioed for help from the Naval Forces Western Mindanao’s Littoral Monitoring Station (LMS)-Bongao, saying they have rescued four people aboard a life raft.
The crewmen of High Adventure also reported to LMS-Bongao that they rescued six others who remained at their stalled vessel.
The rescued seamen were turnover to the NTG-Tawi-Tawi, which provided them assistance. emergency assistance.
Racadio said investigation showed that the eight Malaysians were crew and passengers of M/V Belait Surita that drifted at sea after they encountered a pipe explosion while traveling from Sandakan City,
Malaysia to Talabtab, Malaysia. One crew member of the vessel was reported missing.
Racadio said the two Filipinos were aboard a motorboat that was battered by inclement weather after they departed Tahaw Island, Languyan, to Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi.
“The motor banca encountered weather challenges during its voyage,” he added.
The NTF-Tawi-Tawi coordinated with their Malaysian authorities to fetch the eight seafarers.
