ZAMBOANGA CITY — Seven bodies, all in advanced stage of decomposition, were fished out by fishermen near the town of Sitangkai in Tawi-Tawi, a coastguard official said Tuesday.
Lt. Commander Euphraim Jayson Diciano, Bongao Coastguard Station commander, said the bodies, consisting of six females and a male, were fished out on Monday in separate areas of Sitangkai municipality.
Diciano said the male was recovered in the waters near Barangay Tongusong while that of the females were near Barangay Datu Baguinda Putih in Sitangkai.
Diciano said that based on the accounts of the lone survivor, Ibrahim Mandul, the bodies were among the 15 people aboard a “temper type” boat that capsized on July 30 near Siamil Island, Sabah.
Diciano said Mandul was rescued by fishermen on August 3 near Talapan Reef, Sitangkai and was brought to the Rural Health Unit (RHU) in the area.
Investigation showed that Mandul and his 14 companions left Banaran Island in Sapah-Sapah town for Sempornah, Sabah, on July 29.
However, Diciano said they passed Sitangkai to refuel and bought provisions for the trip on July 30 and left on the same day. He said the temper type vessel capsized on July 30 after it was battered by strong winds and big waves while near Siamil Island, Sabah.
Seven of them remain missing and feared dead with the recovery on Monday of the seven bodies.
Diciano said the seven bodies were immediately buried. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
