Filipino Refugees in Sabah Arrived in Tawi-Tawi

April 15, 2013

A total of 128 Filipino refugees including a newly born child caught in the on-going stand-off in Sabah, Malaysia were safely brought home by the Philippine Coast Guard after one their vessel fetch them in the Philippine-Malaysian boundary near Taganak in Tawi-Tawi.

Coast Guard Southwestern Mindanao chief Commodore Leopoldo Laroya said that PCG Station in Bongao received information from their detachment in Taganak that 128 returnees have arrived at Taganak, Tawi-Tawi from Sabah around lunchtime of April 9.

Officials and crew members of PCG search and rescue vessel BRP Nueva Vizcaya (SARV-3502) were immediately informed regarding the said incident and went to Taganak, Tawi-Tawi to transport said returnees.

BRP Nueva Vizcaya arrived at said locality and departed Taganak carrying a total of 128 returnees composed of 58 adults and 70 children.

While the said Coast Guard vessel underway at vicinity southwest off Pearl Bank, one of the returnees successfully gave birth to a healthy baby girl with the humanely assistance of Ensign Felix Angelo Angue PCG and Seaman First-class Alvin Balmonte, member of engineering department of said vessel without the presence of any medical personnel on board.

The new born baby girl together with her mother was immediately brought to the nearest hospital for further medical assessment. The other returnees were turned-over to DSWD for proper disposition.

[mappress]
Naval Today Staff, April 15, 2013; Image: The Philippine Coast Guard