ELEVEN Malaysians were rescued off Sibutu Passage, which separates Sulu Archipelago and Borneo, after their speedboat encountered engine trouble, the military reported yesterday.
The AFP Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said the Navy’s Littoral Monitoring Station in Bongao received information about the speedboat drifting due to engine trouble.
Westmincom said the information was relayed by transiting bulk carrier MV Tomini Dynasty, which is sailing under the flag of Marshall Island.
MV Tomini Dynasty, which was enroute to Rizhao, China at that time, rescued the victims.
The Maritime Coordinating Center of the military’s Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi immediately coordinated with Malaysia’s Maritime Coordinating Center Tawau regarding the incident.
Westmincom spokesman Maj. Andrew Linao said personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard-Sibutu Station and Sibutu Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council proceeded to the site and provided water, food and medical assistance to the Malaysians.
“MV Tomini Dynasty then properly turned over the 11 and their towed watercraft to the Royal Malaysian Navy in Sabah in the wee hours of April 1,” said Linao.
Citing the statements of the Malaysians, Linao said their family-owned speedboat left Tawau for Semporna, Malaysia last March 28.
“While they were traveling in the sea waters of Tawau, the engine’s injection pump malfunctioned. The crew tried to fix it but to no avail, causing them to drift to Sibutu Strait, after being hit by big waves and strong currents due to bad weather conditions,” said Linao.
