PCG: Fifty (50) passengers composed of 43 adults and seven (7) children and eight (8) crew of the wooden-hulled fishing vessel F/B Lady Alwena were rescued by the SAR team of Coast Guard Station Zamboanga after she encountered engine trouble and drifted towards vicinity waters off Lamitan, Basilan on July 14.

The 6.9 gross-tonnaged vessel departed Laminusa, Siasi, Sulu on July 13 at 8pm bound for Zamboanga City.

A certain Neriza Idlana, mother of one of the passengers onboard, appeared to Coast Guard Station Zamboanga and reported the incident around 7:20O PM of July 14. 

CGS Zamboanga immediately dispatched its personnel onboard three (3) PCG aluminium boats to conduct search and rescue operations and successfully found the distressed vessel at vicinity waters of Lamitan at 8:10 PM, and conducted towing operations thereat.

The SAR team together with the rescued passengers and crew were safely towed and arrived at the station beach area at 11 PM of the same day.

All passengers were found to be in good physical condition and were subsequently sent home to their respective families while F/B Lady Alwena was temporarily placed under the custody of CGS Zamboanga for further investigation and determination of possible violations.