1 missing, 5 rescued from capsized boat off Patikul —JTF Sulu

One person has remained missing, while five have been rescued from a boat that capsized in rough waters due to bad weather, Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu said.

In a statement on Saturday, the task force said that the motorized boat with markings “FV OK LNG” with six people onboard capsized on Friday.

After a 17-hour search and rescue operations in Sulu Sea, the Naval Task Group Sulu rescued only five of the six people from the boat at 7:40 a.m.

Photo courtesy JTF-Sulu

They were found in the vicinity of Bacungan and Panganaa islands of Barangay Bonbon in Patikul.

Naval Task Group Sulu’s Colonel Ruben Candelario identified those rescued as Kaisar Pulalon, Judimar Pulalon, Alvin Pulalon, Rene Pulanon, and Alnaser Hadjirul of Barangay Tanjung in Indanan.

“We are still searching for Arman Pulalon, the last remaining passenger,” Candelario said.

The survivors were brought to the nearest wharf in Barangay Tando Batu in Luuk for immediate medical care by the Rural Health Unit of said municipality.

“These individuals are local fishermen from Indanan, Sulu who came to Patikul waters amid heavy rains to fish,” Candelario said.

JTF Sulu commander Major General William Gonzales commended the rescue of the five individuals.

“I have high hopes that Arman Pulalon will survive the tragedy.  The naval assets of Joint Task Force Sulu under the direct control and supervision of Naval Task Group Sulu are still on dispatch for search and rescue operations,” Gonzales said. —LBG, GMA News