AN Indonesian fisherman who had been adrift for the past seven days off the waters of Sarangani, Davao Occidental was rescued by the Philippine Navy on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
In a statement from the navy, the Barko ng República ng Pilipinas, BRP Tarlac (LD601) was conducting gunnery exercises near the southwest of Balut Island, Sarangani, Davao Occidental when they saw the fisherman.
"LD601 was conducting a gunnery exercise approximately 54.5 nautical miles southwest of Balut Island, Sarangani, Davao Occidental when the duty radioman received a distress call from the Lite Boat Tanigue, a 25-crew boat located 11 nautical miles from the exercise area," the Navy said.
The victim and his watercraft were subsequently hauled aboard LD601. He was identified as Kamuraan Ama, a 50-year-old citizen of Miangas, Talaud, Indonesia.
The BRP Tarlac immediately coordinated with the naval operations center of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) to report the incident.
The fisherman has been reportedly adrift for seven days owing to engine failure when he was discovered by the Lite Boat Tanigue. The rescued Indonesian fisherman was then transferred to the Navy ship's sickbay, a clinic-like area designed for medical emergencies, where he was examined by the on-duty nurse.
While the ship was en route to the rendezvous point to hand over Kamuraan Ama, the duty nurse administered initial medical aid to the victim.
He was turned over to the Indonesian authorities.