Cops rescued at sea

A COMBINED rescue team has rescued a group of policemen whose motorized bancas (boats) capsized while on a seaborne patrol off Zamboanga Sibugay province, a top police official said.

Rescued on Thursday afternoon were the policemen from the municipality of Ipil, the capital of Zamboanga Sibugay, headed by Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca.

They were rescued by combined forces of the Coastguard, Navy, Army Special Forces (Seaborne) and policemen.

Police Regional Office (PRO) in Zamboanga Peninsula director Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles said that prior to the incident the policemen were aboard three motorized bancas patrolling the municipal waters of Ipil town.

However, Estilles said the policemen’s motorized bancas capsized around 3:30 p.m. Thursday while maneuvering after they were battered by big waves.

The policemen managed to stay afloat until they were rescued by the combined rescue team, Estilles said.

The policemen from Ipil constantly conduct seaborne patrol to thwart possible intrusion by pirates within the municipal waters.