AN Indonesian rescued on Tuesday after being adrift at sea for days would be sent home soon, according to authorities.
The Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, which took custody of the drifter, had coordinated with local and Indonesian officials for his release.
“We coordinated with the Interpol Tawi-Tawi and the Indonesian Border Crossing Station [BCS] for the background check of Fiter,” JTF Commander Brig. Gen. Custodio Parcon said. “Indonesian BCS personnel initially vouched for the subject’s nationality but reserved the final confirmation when authorities from Indonesia communicate their feedback.”
The BCS was a product of the trilateral agreement the country entered into with Malaysia and Indonesia as part of the effort to stem the movement of terrorists at sea.
“Since our trilateral cooperative arrangement is in effect, we are able to closely coordinate with our neighboring countries and address security concerns and other issues,” Parcon added.
According to Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command Spokesman Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, Filipino fisherman Idris Elsan reported seeing a man inside a makeshift cottage that was floating in the coastal waters of Manuk Mangkaw, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, at around 4 p.m. of April 10.
The Indonesian identified as Eren Fiter was turned over to the police before he was transferred to the custody of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi.
Fiter was brought to the Simunul Municipal Police Station at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday after spending the night at his rescuer’s house. The Indonesian was initially given medical attention by the Simunul police before he was eventually turned over to the military personnel in Tawi-Tawi.
According to Pentinglay, Fiter said his floating cottage was cut from its anchor on March 19 due to strong winds and cast away from shore. The Indonesian said he tried to get help from passing vessels and other seacrafts while adrift.
However, he said he was unable to catch the attention of these vessels.