Three fishermen onboard a distressed motorboat in the vicinity waters of Benham Rise have been rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the agency reported Saturday, Oct. 23.
They were identified as Romeo Bernardo, 59, Freddie Lubiano, 54, and Glen Lopez, 44, whose motorboat F/BCA BENEDICT UNO was found last Wednesday floating 50 nautical miles northeast of Pandan, Catanduanes.
According to Lubiano, the boat captain, they encountered engine trouble while on the way back to Barangay Napo in Pandan after fishing in Benham Rise.
Upon inspection of their motorbanca, they found that the engine absorbed salt through seawater that was diluted to the engine fuel.
It took PCG personnel four hours of search and rescue operation before finding the whereabouts of the fishermen.