Indon Navy rescues 7 Pinoy gobs

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Seven Muslim Filipino sailors, whose motorboat drifted for eight days in the high seas, have been rescued by the Indonesian navy, Philippine Navy authorities said yesterday.

The crew members of M/L Nurhaida, all residents of Manuk Mangkaw, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, were found near Marutawa Island last Jan. 3 and were immediately repatriated.

Commodore Rufino Lopez Jr., chief of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, learned about the rescue from Abdul Untong, municipal planning and development coordinator of Simunul town.

Reports said the motorboat, which plied the Simunul-Sibuto route, had been reported missing since last Dec. 25.

The seven rescued were identified as Alrashid Hadji, 38, the boat’s patron; Abdul Halun, 40; Diwang Jamluddin, 35; Alonga Sali, 39; Edgar Arif, 29; Mohammad Arif, 23; and Hasim Halun, 19.