200 passengers rescued from vessel in distress off Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Maritime authorities have rescued some 200 passengers from a vessel in distress at sea off Basilan province early Monday morning. Col. Jose Manuel Payos, chief of the Regional Maritime Unit-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (RMUBAR), said the passengers were rescued from the vessel around 5:30 a.m. in the waters off Pangasaan Island in Lantawan town.