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 Lieutenant Noel Cadigal said Filipino fishermen found the Vietnamese early Thursday on the small boat drifting off Roxas town, in Palawan province.
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 West Philippine Sea west of the province.
Cadigal says an investigation is underway to determine whether they illegally entered Philippine territory.