BOLINAO, Pangasinan – Three fishermen from Subic, Zambales whose fishing boat capsized 30 nautical miles Northwest of Bolinao were rescued Sunday morning, July 3, three days after the incident.
Lt Col. Resty Santos, chief of Bolinao police, identified the three fishermen as Michael, 28; Aldrin Laude, 24; and Clarence Nibrel, 17.
All are residents of Brgy. Calapandayan, Subic, Zambales.
According to the Bolinao police, the three fishermen were on top of their capsized boat for three days, enduring the sweltering sunlight, and without food to eat, and had to make do with a gallon of water.
“Talaga naman sila’y nanghihina, namumutla, nangitim na sa bilad sa dagat at halos wala ng lakas ang mga ito nang makita sa ibabaw ng kanilang fishing boat sa halos tatlong araw (They were weak, and pale. They had gone dark exposed in the sea, and had no strength when we saw them on their boat after three days),” said Staff Sergeant Glendon Caasi, investigator on case.
The police said the three were already looking tired, and lacking energy.
Their three-day ordeal finally came to an end when a fishing boat passed by.
F/B Joyce Fishing Boat rescued the three fishermen at 30 nautical miles (55.5 Kms) Northwest of Bolinao waters at around 8:00 a.m. on Sunday.
The three fishermen were feeling drowsy when they were chanced upon by fishermen in Bolinao.
The fishermen were turned over to Bolinao Police and were immediately brought to Bolinao Community Hospital to assess their medical condition.
They were then turned over to LGU Subic Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) headed by Danilo B. Macamay Jr.
It was on June 26 when they left Zambales for fishing, and were supposed to return on July 1.
They were able to complete their task, but then on their way home on July 1, around 1 a.m., their boat capsized. It was the start of their suffering they never thought would last for three days amid the sea.
“Walang nagawa ang mga ito kundi magkanya kanyang ligtas sa sarili at maswerteng lahat sila ay nakakapit at nanatili sa ibabaw ng tumaob na fishing boat (They could not do anything but save themselves, and they were lucky that they were all able to hold onto the overturned fishing boat),” the Bolinao police told the Manila Bulletin.
“Tanging isang galon ng tubig ang kanilang iniinom para manatiling buhay sa gitna ng dagat (They only drank one gallon of water to survive while stranded in the middle of the sea),” the police added.
They were all tired, and thought it was their last days, especially the 17-year old of the three who was emotional when the fellow fishermen rescued them.
“Nakahigop sila ng mainit na sabaw at kaunting kanin para pampalakas sa kanilang pag uwi (They were able to eat some hot soup and some rice to gather their strength for their return home),” Lt. Col. Resty Santos said.