By Ely Dumaboc/PNA
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has rescued three Filipino fishermen drifting at sea for 12 days in the Celebes Sea near the border of the country with Indonesia, a PCG official announced Thursday.
Lt. Commander Jimmy Vingno, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station head, identified the rescued fishermen as Bakri Nuli, 30; Michael Suwaib, 35; and, Almujer Anim, 18.
Vingno said investigation showed the three, on board a motorized boat, left Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, around 5 p.m. on December 22, 2018 en route to Sitangkai town in the same province.
He said they drifted from their point of destination when the motorboat’s engine conked out and was beyond repair.
He said the three also failed to call for help “as there was already no signal”.
Anim said they were spotted by a foreign vessel, whose crew sent a distress message to the PCG, which in turn sent the BRP-Cape San Agustin, the rescue boat.
The three rescued fishermen arrived at the local port around 3 p.m. on Thursday although they were rescued by the BRP-Cape San Agustin last January 3.
They were met by their relatives upon arrival at the port of Zamboanga.
