Two Filipino fishermen who went missing in Palawan last month were finally rescued after 12 days in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) by Chinese fishermen, the Western Command (WesCom) reported Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, WesCom commander, identified the rescued fishermen as Jerome Fortu and his nephew Jaybogs Fortu, both residents of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.
The two fishermen sailed to fish last Jan. 23 but they ran out of fuel while at sea, causing their boat to drift in the WPS.
They remained stranded at sea until they were spotted and saved in Dalas Bank -- roughly 100 nautical miles northwest of El Nido, Palawan -- by unidentified Chinese fishermen who were nearby the area last Feb. 4, Carlos said.
"Based on the accounts of one of our fishermen, the Chinese fishermen were resting in the area when they spotted our countrymen so they rescued them," said Commander Ariel Joseph Coloma, WesCom spokesperson.
The Chinese fishermen then turned over the Filipino fishermen to the crew of a Filipino fishing vessel, who informed the WesCom about the rescue.
Philippine Navy vessel BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS15) was deployed by the WesCom to fetch the rescued fishermen in the WPS. The fishermen were administered with medical care while enroute to the port.
The fishermen were brought to Camp Ricarte Station Hospital where they were given further medical attention since they were manifesting signs of dehydration, Carlos said. They were eventually declared to be in a stable condition.
The fishermen were airlifted by Navy Islander aircraft NV314 to Mamburao and they were reunited with their families.
“This bayanihan among fishermen, our ship officers and crew, our medical team, aviators and all those involved in the overall coordination effort ensured the safe return of our fishermen,” Carlos said.
The gesture of goodwill came two days before a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel directed a military-grade laser light towards a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship in Ayungin Shoal, WPS which caused temporary blindness to Filipino crew.