- MANILA, Philippines: The Philippine military says 12 Vietnamese whose fishing boat sank drifted in a small utility boat for more than a week before being rescued.
Regional naval spokesman Lt. Noel Cadigal says Filipino fishermen found the Vietnamese early Thursday on the small boat drifting off western Palawan province’s Roxas township.
He said Friday the Vietnamese said their fishing boat sank after its engine broke down about 10 days earlier.
He says the fishermen were rescued in the Sulu Sea east of Palawan. The Philippines, Vietnam, China and three other countries have conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea west of the province.
Cadigal says an investigation is underway to determine whether they illegally entered Philippine territory.
