11 rescued from capsized boat in Tawi-Tawi; 4 from another boat still missing
COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Updated 2:06 p.m.) — Authorities rescued Monday 11 people from a boat that capsized due to strong waves while sailing from Sitangkai to Bongo in Tawi-Tawi province.
Four passengers — Jig Abdul, Ajil Abdul, Julhamin Abdul and Raiza Abdul — of another boat, marked Baby Nor, that reportedly disappeared on the same sea route are still missing.
Police Brig. Gen. Samuel Rodriguez of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said Tuesday all 11 passengers of the boat Ronymal have been turned over to local officials in Simunul, an island town in Tawi-Tawi.
The survivors have been identified as Dalson Kadil, Habil Kadil, Noralyn Kadil, Inang Danial, Delma Abdulgafor, Almasil Abdulgafor, Roman Kadil, Alsimal Abdulgafor, Iradzmal Abdulgafor, Nursilyn Kadil, and Airin Danial.
Police and coast guard personnel who rescued them also managed to tow their capsized boat to Simunul, also an island town near the scene of the sea mishap.
"We ought to thank the police teams and personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard and local officials for the rescue of the 11 boat passengers," Rodriguez said.
The Tawi-Tawi provincial police and the Coast Guard are still searching for the four passengers of the missing boat that local officials said could have sunk in a deep channel in Simunul's territorial sea about 10 kilometers off the coast of the island town.
Rodriguez said the search operation is being assisted by local government units in Tawi-Tawi.
Search and rescue operations in Sulu
Meanwhile, at least five fishermen have been rescued while another has been missing for four days after their boat capsized in the waters off Sulu because of bad weather.
Rear Adm. Erick Kagaoan, commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said six fishermen aboard FB Oakley left their village at Barangay Tanjung, Indanan town to go fishing when it capsized last Friday in the vicinity off Bacungan Island and Barangay Bulangsi, Luuk town.
The families of the victims, who received a distress call from FB Oakley, immediately alerted the Naval Task Group and 4th Marine Brigade under Col. Ruben Candelario, prompting a rescue operation that included a Navy Multi-Purpose Assault Craft.
Kagaoan said Raisar Maadil, Judimar Pulalon, Ardazel Pulalon, Alvin Pulalon and Rene Pulalon, all residents of Barangay Tanjung, have been rescued.
The Marines and Navy are continuing the search and rescue operation in rough seas for Alman Pulalon, who is still missing.
Fattra Pulalon, mother of one of the survivors, said they could not sustain their own rescue attempts due to bad weather.
"The search and rescue operations of the Philippine Navy is still ongoing as of this report and are focused on the area of the incident to recover the still-missing person," Kagaoan said. — with The STAR/Roel Pareño
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