A TEENAGE boat crew was rescued after he fell overboard in Basilan on Wednesday. (Photo via Liza Jocson)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A 17-year-old male fishing boat crew was rescued after falling overboard near Baluk Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan province on Wednesday, May 20.
MBCA Love Heart was on its way to Tawi-Tawi from Pagadian City on Tuesday, May 19, when the victim, France Gemina, reportedly fell asleep on a hammock and plunged into the sea at around 9 p.m.
A cargo ship, the FV Lady Bianca, spotted and rescued him.
He was taken to Zamboanga City with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard and ferried back to Pagadian City.
Meanwhile, a suspected illegal recruiter was arrested here on Wednesday.
The suspect, Josephine, faces cases for violating Republic Act 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended, for allegedly recruited five women, including two minors.
She faces life imprisonment for recruiting minors, which constitutes qualified trafficking, a non-bailable offense.