BAGONG CALARIAN, ZAMBOANGA CITY — Battling the unpredictable waters off Parang, Sulu, a Navy-affiliated fishing vessel turned into a lifeline on Sunday, October 26, when it plucked a lone man from the open sea in a dramatic rescue that could have ended in tragedy.
At around 1:23 p.m., the F/B JANICA-1, a carrier vessel under Regal Fishing and part of the 7th Company, Special CAFGU Active Auxiliary (SCAA) Squadron, spotted a figure adrift amid the restless waves. Without hesitation, the crew launched into action—maneuvering through rough currents and blinding glare to haul the exhausted survivor to safety.
The man, later identified as Badir Jamiri, was alone and at the mercy of the sea when fate—and the Navy’s maritime network—intervened. Crew members administered first aid and ensured Jamiri’s condition was stable before alerting local maritime authorities for official turnover and documentation.
The Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) lauded the crew’s quick thinking and courage, noting that such acts embody the unwavering spirit of solidarity between the Philippine Navy and its civilian maritime partners.
“This is what partnership at sea looks like—swift action, shared duty, and the will to save lives despite the dangers,” a WMNC spokesperson said.
The rescue underscores the critical role of Navy-affiliated vessels like F/B JANICA-1 in patrolling one of the country’s most perilous maritime zones, where strong currents, unpredictable weather, and vast isolation can turn any moment into a fight for survival.
In the vast expanse of Western Mindanao waters, where peril lurks beneath every surge, the timely courage of ordinary seafarers once again proved extraordinary—reminding all that in the face of nature’s fury, human compassion remains the strongest force afloat.