By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Sailors aboard the BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS176) have successfully rescued a wooden-hulled vessel carrying 90 people that was in distress off Tawi-Tawi, the Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) said Friday.
Capt. Hilarion Cecista, WMNC acting commander, said the wooden-hulled vessel, M/L Len-Lyn, was rescued off the coast of Languyan, Tawi-Tawi Thursday evening.
Cecista said the crew of PS176 launched their rescue operation after receiving a distress call at about 1:30 p.m. via Viber from a passenger aboard M/L Len-Lyn. The passenger reported that the vessel was experiencing mechanical trouble approximately 3.4 nautical miles north of Tumbagaan Island.
M/L Len-Lyn had departed the island town of Pangutaran in Sulu and was en route to the island municipality of Sibutu in Tawi-Tawi, carrying 90 passengers when the engine malfunction occurred.
“Without delay, PS176 proceeded to the last known location of M/L Len-Lyn and subsequently located the vessel drifting near Languyan Island,” Cecista said.
PS176 then safely towed the distressed vessel to the Chinese Pier in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
At the time the distress call was received from M/L Len-Lyn, PS176 was conducting a routine maritime security operation. (PNA)
