Fifteen Filipinos stranded in Sabah for days after the engine of their vessel conked out in mid sea while sailing in Tawi-Tawi have been returned home.
The return to Tawi-Tawi of the Filipinos three days ago following the incident was facilitated by the Navy’s Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi (NTG-Tawi-Tawi).
Lt. Chester Ross Cabaltera, acting spokesman of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the motor launch Dayang Jubaira Express bearing the Filipinos was sailing for Turtle Island in Taganak, Tawi-Tawi on January 6 when its engine malfunctioned.
Cabaltera said the boat, which originated from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, was dragged away by huge waves until it grounded in the area of Bukit, Lawa-Lawa, Sabah.
The Navy learned about the fate of the survivors from one of their relatives, prompting Marine Col. Nestor Narag Jr. to organize a rescue operation.
Narag, director of the Maritime Coordinating Center Tawi-Tawi of the Joint Task Force INDOMALPHI and the deputy commander of the NTG-Tawi-Tawi, also coordinated with Malaysian authorities in Tawau, Malaysia.
Cabaltera said the Filipinos, seven whom are from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and eight crewmen of the motor launch, were formally turned over by Malaysian authorities to the Philippine government through Narag in the sea waters of Sabah aboard a Malaysian Coast Guard vessel.
The Filipinos were later transferred to a Philippine Navy vessel that was sent to fetch them.
Narag handed a Certificate of Appreciation to Malaysian officials for their commitment to the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement (TCA) under the Joint Task Force INDOMALPHI.
Brig. Gen Romeo Racadio, commander of the NTG-Tawi-Tawi and the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, commended military units for the recovery and repatriation of the Filipinos.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) pinned medals to members of the Army’s 68th Infantry Battalion (68th IB) following the end of the unit’s tour of duty in Basilan.
The awards and plaque were accorded by Westmincom commander Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., who was represented by Cdr. Edwin Ello, the assistant chief of unified command staff for personnel.
Westmincom spokesman Major Andrew Linao said the 68th IB successfully served in Basilan, particularly in Lamitan City, from September 6, 2016 up to December 20, 2021.
The unit will be replaced by the 14th Division Reconnaissance Company and the 17th Scout Ranger Company, which Linao said, will provide additional forces to the Joint Task Force Basilan in “forging peace, security and development in the province.”
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