By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — A routine sea voyage to Mapun, Tawi-Tawi, was disrupted after a passenger motorboat suffered engine failure off the coast of Bongao, prompting a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescue operation that brought all 62 people aboard safely back to port.
The incident occurred on July 27, when M/L Trisha Mae, carrying 52 passengers and 10 crew members, became disabled while navigating the waters off Bongao.
Upon receiving the distress report, the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Bongao immediately deployed a search-and-rescue team, joined by personnel from the Marine Environmental Protection Unit (MEPU) and the Special Operations Group (SOG), aboard M/L Piaksah.
Rescuers located the stranded vessel and towed it safely to the Port of Bongao, where it arrived at about 10:30 p.m. Authorities said all passengers and crew members were unharmed, and no injuries or casualties were reported.
The successful rescue prevented what could have escalated into a more serious maritime emergency, as the vessel had been left adrift while en route to its destination.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan lauded the responding personnel for their swift and coordinated response, saying rapid emergency action remains critical in ensuring the safety of people traveling by sea.
The Coast Guard said the operation highlights the importance of maintaining a ready maritime search-and-rescue capability, particularly in island provinces where sea transport serves as a primary means of travel.
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