THE Navy has rescued 67 crewmen and passengers of a commercial vessel in the waters of Basilan after the seacraft encountered trouble, a belated report reaching Camp Aguinaldo said on Monday.
Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said prompt response by members of the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Zamboanga City resulted in the rescue of all the crewmembers and passengers of M/L Fatima Devie.
The commercial vessel, steered by Cisar Abdul with seven crew members and 59 passengers, was en route to Zamboanga City from Taganak Island when it suffered derangement at the vicinity of Baluk Baluk Island in Basilan on the night of December 1.
Medina said as soon as they received the distress call, Naval Task Force 61 dispatched BRP Iwak (LC 289) to locate M/L Fatima Devie.
Comanded by Cmdr. Homer Gonzales, the NTF 61 established contact with the distressed vessel and proceeded to rescue its crewmen and passengers.
The troubled vessel, with its crew and passengers, was towed by LC 289 from Malamaui Island in Basilan to Baliwasan, Zamboanga City where it arrived at around 1:38 a.m. on December 2.
Medina commended the Navy personnel involved in the successful rescue mission.
In August a similar incident occurred when Navy landing craft BRP Ivatan (LC 298) rescued distressed vessel M/L Moonlight Sheera that suffered from a machinery derangement due to a broken propeller shaft.
The crew members of the vessel were safely and successfully ferried back to Zamboanga City pier.
Last month the Navy also apprehended an Abu Sayaf Group (ASG) vessel at Tonquil Island in Sulu. The ASG was believed to be behind the conduct of harassment and piracy against commercial fishing vessels transiting in the area.
“These apprehensions are a result of the intensified military operations and patrols in the area that aim to put an end to the lawless activities in the region,” Medina said.