A Navy ship towed an overloaded motorized boat that had experienced a technical problem in Tawi-Tawi to safety on Tuesday.
The BRP Dioscoro Papa was conducting an election-related patrol Tuesday noon when it chanced upon a vessel in the vicinity of Sibutu and Sitangkai Islands, Navy public affairs chief Capt. Lued Lincuna said.
The M/L Rabson had been dead in the water for more than three hours due to engine trouble when it was spotted by the Navy ship. The stranded ship was carrying around 120 passengers who had been in Sitangkai town for the elections.
The Dioscoro Papa immediately towed M/L Rabson to safety. Some of the passengers of the stranded vessel were also transferred aboard the Navy gunboat and given water to drink.