Navy gunboat tows stranded passenger banca to safety

From the Philippine News Agency (May 11): Navy gunboat tows stranded passenger banca to safety

Observing the mariners' code of helping fellow mariners in distress, Navy gunboat BRP Dioscoro Papa (PG-381) towed to safety an overloaded passenger banca those engine conked out off Tawi-Tawi waters Tuesday noon.

Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said the M/L Rabson, skippered by a certain Mudap Amidil, sustained engine trouble and has been stranded for more than three hours off the waters of Sibutu and Sitangkai Islands when it was spotted by the naval vessel.

The BRP Dioscoro Papa was conducting election-related patrols when it spotted the stricken banca which was transporting 120 passengers just voted at Sitangkai during the recently-concluded elections.

The patrol vessel immediately towed the M/L Rabson to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Some of the passengers were also transferred to the assisting PN vessel.

All of them were also provided potable water, Lincuna added.

"The PN in addition to its tasks for internal and external security shall be an active partner of government in disaster response and relief operations," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=884220