85 rescued as boat drifts off Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Eighty-five people were rescued after their boat developed engine trouble in the waters off Tawi-Tawi on Tuesday.

The Naval Task Force 61 deployed its patrol craft PC390 after it received a distress call from the skipper of the motorlaunch Dhiemal, according to Rear Adm. Donn Anthony Miraflor, chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao.

On board the Dhiemal were 78 passengers and seven crewmembers.

The rescue team coordinated with the Navy’s Littoral Monitoring Station in Bongao town and established radar and visual contacts with the Dhiemal at around 1:40 p.m.

Boat captain Ramal Hji Mallih said they were sailing toward Bongao from Tandu Banak when the vessel developed engine trouble. He said the boat drifted toward the Sibutu Passage.

Mallih said the immediate arrival of the Navy prevented the boat from drifting toward the open sea, which he said was dangerous.

The Navy patrol craft towed the Dhiemal to the Lamion Wharf.

The passengers and crewmembers were given medical attention and found to be in good condition.