Taiwanese boat rescues 3 Filipino fishermen adrift in Batanes

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines — Three Filipino fishermen were rescued by the crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel in the waters of Batanes on April 24, the Philippine Coast Guard – Northern Luzon said in a belated report.

Coast Guard officials said Arthur Yang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office informed them that fishermen Redento Fronda, 39; Jovani Tablisima, 24; and Roland Duerme, 18 were rescued by Taiwanese fishing vessel Xhin Zhenfeng No. 3.

The fishermen, all from the Babuyan Islands in Batanes, drifted at sea after their fishing boat’s engine malfunctioned.

They were taken on the Taiwanese vessel, which towed the distressed boat to Itbayat Island, also in Batanes.

The fishermen went on a fishing venture off Calayan Island when their boat had engine trouble and drifted at sea for four days.

The Coast Guard’s Multi-Role Response Vessel 4402 (BRP Malabrigo) coordinated with Xhin Zhenfeng boat crew to rescue the fishermen.

The rescued fishermen were then taken on board the BRP Malabrigo and their fishing boat towed back to Basco, Batanes. /cbb