SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique (PNA) – A fisherman who went missing for two days was rescued on Monday near the coast of the municipality of Patnongon, Antique, after clinging to his damaged fishing boat.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Alan Mandado of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Antique Station said Bernie Francisco, 51, left Barangay Aras-asan, Sebaste to go fishing on January 2. However, his fishing boat capsized due to huge waves.
“Francisco was alone when the incident happened,” Mandado said in an interview on Tuesday.
The PCG officer said they immediately conducted a search patrol after they received the report of the missing fisherman from his family.
“Another fisherman Lodovico Pedrenia on Jan. 4, went out fishing, and saw Francisco floating with his fishing boat,” he said.
Francisco was found clinging on to his fishing boat that floated towards the coastal area in the northern town of Patnongon, about 87.15 kilometers away from Sebaste.
“Pedrenia, after rescuing Francisco, informed our PCG personnel who were also patrolling in the area,” Mandado said.
He added that Francisco was brought to the provincial hospital Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH) in San Jose de Buenavista for medical treatment.
“Francisco is now confined at the hospital because of the wounds that he obtained while in the open sea,” he said.
He said Francisco, out of his gratitude to Pedrenia for saving his life, decided to give him his fishing boat.
“The boat though has no more engine for it was already thrown off into the sea,” he said.