National

Three Indonesians Missing in Philippines Found
Friday, 02 September, 2005 | 20:31 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Manado, North Sulawesi:Three Indonesian citizens and three Philippines citizens, who had been missing in the waters off Balut island, the Philippines, since August 23, have been found in a safe and alive.

“They have now already been taken to Gensan (General Santos),” said the Indonesian Consulate General Office’s spokesperson Bambang Gunawan on Wednesday (31/08).

As reported earlier, the F/BCA Macky fishing boat, which set out from Marore, Sangihe Regency, to Batuganding, the Philippines, hit misfortune in the waters off Balut island.

On board the Macky were its six crews (including the captain) and three passengers, carrying 300 kilograms of fish.

According to Heinrich Wolff, Liaison Coordinator of Indonesian Citizens in South Mindanao, the six missing persons were swept to nearby Philippines waters and found by a passing fishing boat.

“The fishing ship found them in the weak condition and then pulled them to Gensan,” said Wolff.

He said that the Macky fishing ship suffered engine problems in the middle of the ocean and the lifeboat within was launched.

The three people aboard made for Balut island.

After arriving on Balut, they reported the incident to the Indonesian Navy post and citizens on Balut. (Verrianto Madjowa-Tempo News Room)