ZAMBOANGA CITY — Personnel of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem) rescued a distressed wooden-hulled motor launch with seven crewmen aboard off Tawi-Tawi, a top official said Tuesday.
Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Navforwem commander, said motor launch M/L Jomong was rescued Monday while the sailors aboard Patrol Craft-387 (PC-387) of the Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi was conducting maritime patrol.
Medina said the PC-387 was en route to Lamion Wharf in Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi, when the sailors spotted M/L Jomong in distress.
Investigation showed that M/L Jomong, which was loaded with 5,000 board feet of good lumber, was sailing to the island town of Sitangkai from Bongao when its engine suddenly shut off due to mechanical defect.
The hull of M/L Jomong was damaged by big waves that battered the vessel while drifting at sea, he said.
PC-387 towed M/L Jomong to Bongao pier and was turned over to the Coast Guard Station Central stationed in the port of Bongao for proper disposition.
He said the good lumber has an estimated market value of PHP150,000.
He said the successful rescue of the crew of M/L Jomong was a result of intensified maritime patrol and operations of the Philippine Navy.
