Nine fishermen rescued by Coast Guard teams off Zambales
By YUL MALICSE
February 4, 2007, 8:00am
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) search-and-rescue (SAR) teams rescued nine Filipino fishermen at dawn last Friday, Feb. 2, after their fishing boat was destroyed by strong waves off the Scarborough Shoal west of Subic, Zambales, last Jan. 29.
Capt. Joel Garcia, commanding officer and skipper of the BRP Pampanga (SAR 003) which was dispatched by Philippine Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Damian Carlos to the scene of accident after being informed by Vietnamese fishing boat BD 1535 by radio, identified the rescued fishermen as Herwey N. Naredo, 46; Larry D. Rafael, 21; Victor Muñoz, 32, all of Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan; Roland D. Lagpo, 29; Milanio B. Duque, 28, of San Manuel, Pangasinan; Rene L. Soriano, 39, of Paklansan, Oriental Mindoro; Ronaldo J. Griego, 27, of San Antonio, Oriental Mindoro; Bibid S. Banog, 28, of Manganuy, Surigao del Sur, and Roland N. Nabasca, 16, of Mariveles, Bataan.
Lt. Ted Esguerra, PCG medical officer, said all the rescued fishermen were "in safe condition," except for Victor Muñoz – who was sent to the PCG Medical Infirmary for further medical attention.
LCdr. Joseph Coymen, PCG spokesman said, initial reports have established that nine Filipino fishermen departed Limay, Bataan, last Jan. 25 to fish in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal. Two days after their departure, their motorized banca was rocked by big waves and strong winds that broke its rigger. It was on the fourth day when they were spotted by the Vietnamese seacraft that called PCG headquarters for assistance.
The nine fishermen survived by clinging to rafts and boxes and pieces of styropor.
