THE Philippine Navy, through the Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi, rescued a wooden-hulled vessel in distress drifting off Tawi-Tawi, a top Navy official said Wednesday, April 10.

Rear Admiral Erick Kagaoan, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem) commander, identified the rescued vessel as M/L Yasda II, which was carrying 53 people when rescued on Tuesday, April 9, drifting at 28.5 nautical miles southeast of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Kagaoan said that 42 of the 53 people aboard M/L Yasda II are passengers while the remaining 11 are crewmen.

He said M/L Yasda II “incurred damage on its engine transmission” while traveling from Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi, to Taganak in the Turtle Islands municipality of the same province.

Kagaoan said the Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi, upon receipt of report, dispatched its Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) to render assistance and rescue M/L Yasda II.

He said the MPAC towed M/L Yasda II, which later was successfully moored at the Lamion Wharf in Bongao, where the passengers were provided assistance.

He said the successful rescue of the M/L Yasda II “is a result of selfless commitment and professionalism of the men and women of the Philippine Navy in protecting the country and our people.” (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)