THE Naval Forces Western Mindanao's (NFWM) Naval Task Group NTG)-Sulu rescued three fishermen aboard a motorboat in distress in Sulu Sea, military officials said.
Lieutenant Senior Grade Chester Ross Cabaltera, NFWM information officer, said the three fishermen were rescued around 3 a.m. Monday, February 8, in between Duway Bulod, Banguingui, Sulu, and Tamuk Island, Basilan.
Cabaltera said the NTG-Sulu immediately deployed its Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (BA492) and BRP-Alberto Navarette (PC-394) to conduct search and rescue operations in response to the report of the Navy's Littoral Monitoring Station in Pilas Island and Karfaiza Omar, barangay chairperson of Tulayan, Luuk, Sulu, that a motorboat with three people aboard is in distress in the waters between Basilan and Sulu provinces.
Cabaltera identified the rescued fishermen as Arshid Janier, 26; Ardimal Alipudin, 32; and Aljimil Diman, 41.
He said the three fishermen told the NTG-Sulu personnel, who rescued them, that they were en route to Zamboanga City to transport frozen fish when their motorboat, M/B Dayang, Arnaisa, experienced hull damage.
He said the motorboat was already half-sunken when NTG-troops rescued the three fishermen.
Cabaltera said the rescued fishermen were brought to Luuk District Hospital for medical check-up while their motorboat was towed by PC394 and berthed at Luuk pier. (SunStar Zamboanga)