The Philippine Navy (PN) has saved two Malaysians and two Filipino passengers who had to stay afloat for 15 hours after their speedboat overturned in the vicinity of the seawaters off Sibutu Passage, Tawi-Tawi, the military reported on Sunday, Oct. 10.
The PN's Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) identified the rescued passengers as Hassan Bin Sayadi, 59, Majid Bin Ajahun, 46, Jerry Erni, 35, and Solar De Leon, 40.
According to the Navy, the four passengers came from Sabah and were transporting light cargoes en route to Bongao Island in Tawi-Tawi via Sibutu Passage when their speedboat capsized due to bad weather and unfavorable sea condition around 6 p.m. last Thursday, Oct. 7.
The speedboat eventually sank along with the light cargoes, leaving the four men floating in the water for 15 gruelling hours.
Luckily, a bulk carrier noticed the sunken speedboat and the four men on Friday morning so they immediately called the attention of the NFWM's 3rd Boat Attack Division based in Naval Station Juan Magluyan in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi.
After receiving the report, Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) BA488 and BRP Juan Magluyan (PC392) were immediately dispatched to locate and rescue the passengers of the capsized vessel.
While underway and establishing communication with the bulk carrier, MPAC BA488 and BRP Juan Magluyan located the speedboat and the passengers seven nautical miles west of Bongao Island around 9 a.m. Friday.
"All four passengers suffered minor injuries and were exhausted after long hours of floating at sea while waiting to be rescued," the NFWM said.
The passengers expressed gratitude to the Navy for rescuing them and saving their lives.
"Without the report of the commercial vessel and the rescue effort of the Philippine Navy, maybe we are already dead. This is our second life and we owe this to you,” said Sayadi in Malay.
The Navy turned over the rescued passengers to the Fleet Medical Team of Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi for proper medical attention upon arriving at Lamion Wharf in Bongao Island.