FOUR passengers of a capsized speedboat in the Sibutu Passage, a deep channel that separates Sulu from Borneo, were rescued by the Naval Task Force 61’s 3rd Boat Attack Division on October 8, 2021.

In a statement, the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) of the Philippine Navy said all four sustained minor injuries and were exhausted after 15 hours of floating at sea.

They were identified as Hassan Bin Sayadi, 59, and Majid Bin Ajahun, 46, both Malaysian nationals; and Jerry Erni, 35, and Solar De Leon, 40, both Filipinos.

Their boat and its cargoes sank.

The NFWM said the four were traveling on a speedboat from Sabah to Bongao via Sibutu when the boat capsized at around 6 a.m. Thursday, October 7.

Bulk carrier W-Raptor, which was traversing the area, reported the capsized speedboat to the Littoral Monitoring Station (LMS) Bongao, which informed the 3rd Boat Attack Division.

Dispatched to the site were Multi-Purpose Attack Craft MPAC BA488 and BRP Juan Magluyan (PC392).

“Without the report of the commercial vessel and the rescue effort of the Philippine Navy, maybe we are already dead. This is our second life and we owe this to you,” said a teary-eyed Hassan Bin Sayadi in Malay.

Upon arrival at Lamion Wharf, Bongao, the rescued individuals were turned over to the Fleet Medical Team of Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi for proper medical attention. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)