By Liezle Basa-Inigo and Freddie Lazaro
DAGUPAN – A fisherman reported missing since January 29 in Pangasinan has been rescued by fellow fishermen.
Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) identified the rescued fisherman as Teodolo Silab, 59, a resident of San Fernando City in La Union.
His wife Letecia had earlier reported to NFNL that Silab had gone missing on Wednesday while fishing in the Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan.
NFNL Commander Commodore Caesar Bernard N Valencia immediately directed Naval Task Force 11 to utilize all naval and air assets to locate the reported missing fisherman.
Dispatched was Patrol Boat PB322 of First PB Division stationed at Sual fish port, Sual, Pangasinan to conduct Search and Rescue Operation (SAR) at the reported area.
Three days after he went missing, Silab was located, and rescued by fishing banca Queen Anielyn 2 at 4 p.m. on January 31, 2020.
The banca was skippered by Rodrigo Encio from Sual, Pangasinan.
Silab was found by Encio’s men standing on top of his capsized fishing banca.
Silab, said he was fishing 13 nautical miles off Aringay, La Union when his 26-foot long wooden banca was hit by large waves, causing it to capsize at around 2 p.m., January 29.
The fisherman was then brought by the crew of FB Queen Anielyn 2 to the Navy and PCG Detachment Naval at Sual, Pangasinan.
Silab was brought by the NFNL medical team to Ilocos Training Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) in San Fernando City, La Union for further medical evaluation and observation