20 missing villagers rescued in Sulu waters

ZAMBOANGA CITY — At least 20 people, including children, who were earlier reported missing, were found and rescued by the military search team and local authorities off the coast of Sulu, the military said here yesterday.

The group, who went missing for three days, left their village in Barangay Pitogo, Kalingalang Caluang last Thursday on board an outrigger boat to a nearby island town off Tongkil.

Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara said the group was found drifting off the rough waters of Tongkil after their watercraft ran out of gas.

"All the victims were accounted for and are in stable condition, according to reports forwarded to my office," Batara said.

He dismissed reports that the missing group was taken by navy boats.

Batara said the group was on their way to Tongkil to visit relatives and do business. They failed to return on the same day prompting their town councilor Hadji Jailani to report the incident to the 2nd Marine Brigade.

Worried relatives tried to search for their kin but to no avail. They then reported the incident to the military and asked the Marines for assistance, which then launched a joint search and rescue operation with local leaders. — Roel Pareño