Panguan Island

Panguan Island is an island in the municipality of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi. With an area of 0.06 square kilometres (0.023 sq mi). It is also known as Malamanok, coming from the Sama-Bajau dialect which means eat chicken as locals who travel to Sabah usually use this island as a stop-over to eat roasted chicken prior continuing their journey to Malaysia. It is the last island of the Sulu Archipelago nearest the Philippine-Malaysian border.[1]

Panguan Island
Native name:
Malamanok
Panguan Island
Panguan Island
Location within the Philippines
Geography
Coordinates4°42′38″N 119°1′53″E
ArchipelagoSulu Archipelago
Adjacent bodies of waterCelebes Sea
Area0.06 km2 (0.023 sq mi)[1]
Administration
RegionBangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
ProvinceTawi-Tawi
MunicipalitySitangkai

This island is 50 kms. or 31 miles away from Sabah state. Just like other Philippine border communities, the area lacks access to food, potable water and healthcare.

The island has a newly constructed military barrack, a flagpole, and a small community of Badjao.[2]

History

The southernmost flagpole in the Philippines at Panguan Island, Tawi-Tawi. Put up on April 29, 2017 by the 10th Philippine Marines Battalion Landing Team after it was secured from a decade of occupation by the Abu Sayyaf terror group.

Panguan Island was used as a hideout by the Abu Sayyaf terror group until it was liberated by the 10th Marines Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-10) of the Philippine Marine Corps[1] after the surrender of eleven high-ranking Abu Sayyaf leaders of Tawi-Tawi in April 2017.[3]

The Philippine flag was hoisted on the island last 29 April 2017[1] to signify control of the Philippine government.[4]

See also

References

  1. Malicdem, Ervin (13 June 2017). "Panguan Island, the most remote island paradise of the Philippines". Schadow1 Expeditions. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  2. Severino, Howie (4 December 2017). "Somewhere out there is our unmarked border". GMA News. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. Legaspi, Amita (12 April 2017). "11 Abu Sayyaf bandits surrender". GMA News. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  4. Roxas, Joseph Tristan (1 May 2017). "PHL flag raised on Abu Sayyaf 'island paradise'". GMA News. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
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