ZAMBOANGA CITY – Marine troops under the Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi rescued 13 people a small boat that caught fire off Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi, a top military official announced Monday.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Tawi-Tawi commander, said they were rescued around 10:40 a.m. Sunday between the islands of Mantabuan and Banaran in the municipality of Sapa-Sapa.

Racadio said victims were traveling from Sapa-Sapa municipality to Bongao, the capital of Tawi-tawi.

Racadio said that fire rescue team, onboard Speedboat Fiber 10 with a crew from the 82nd Marine Company left Barangay Batu-Batu, Panglima Sugala.

“Not only were the troops had a role in the rescue efforts, even the civilians in the area lend a hand to the military counterparts,” said Racadio, also the 2nd Marine Brigade commander.

Rescued were Sukarno Maring, 72; Nelson Tayting, 50; Nenyang Tayting, 45; Sitti Selfa Maring, 37; Nurfaiza Maring, 31; Salizada Maring, 27; Ridwan Maring, 21; Hudayfi Maring, 14; Toing Tayting 16; Rosita Maring, six; Ubayda Maring, four; Mursaliha Tayting, two; and, Alagib Tayting, one.

The victims were ferried to the wharf of Barangay Lamion, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi where they were given medical assistance from the Forward Support Medical Team of the Naval Task Group Tawi-Tawi.

All rescued individuals were found to be in good physial condition and were later turned over to their relatives in Bongao municipality.