Three Filipino fishermen were rescued by fellow fishers from Taiwan after four days of drifting off Batanes waters, the Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday.
Redento Fronda, 39; Jovani Tablisima, 24; and Roland Duerme, 18 have been drifting off Calayan Island in Batanes for four days after their fishing boat stopped dead on the waters when Taiwanese fishing vessel Xhin Zhenfeng No. 3 spotted them last April 24.
According to the Coast Guard, Arthur Yang of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office informed them about the rescued Filipino fishermen on that same day.
Yang said they were temporarily transferred to the Taiwanese vessel while the distressed fishing vessel was towed to Itbayat Island in Batanes.
A team from Coast Guard onboard Multi-Role Response Vessel 4402 (BRP Malabrigo) then coordinated with Xhin Zhenfeng crew for the rendezvous position to pick-up the fishermen.
The three fishermen, all residents of Babuyan Island, told Coast Guard that they went on fishing venture off Calayaan Island when they encountered engine trouble and drifted for four days.
On April 24, the fishermen safely arrived at Port of Basco, Batanes while the fishing boat were turned over to Coast Guard Station Batanes.
The Coast Guard also expressed its gratitude to Taiwan for rescuing the Filipino fishermen. (Betheena Kae Unite)
