3 missing fishermen found safe in Batanes

TUGUEGARAO CITY –– Rescuers on Thursday found the three fishermen who had gone missing during a fishing venture near the Mavulis Island in Itbayat, Batanes.

Nilda Salengua Garcia, Itbayat municipal disaster risk reduction management officer, said Antonio Lizardo, 53; Eduardo Elica, 35; and Tinong Alviso, 45, were safe and would be taken to the Batanes General Hospital in Basco town.

Garcia said the three fishermen were severely dehydrated after they were stranded in Dinem Island in Itbayat, which is an hour from Basco, without food and water.

Their fellow fishermen from Basco found the three.

The three were last seen by fellow fishermen near the islands of Itbayat and Siayan north of Basco, heading toward Mavulis Island near Taiwan.

The three failed to return home on Aug. 22 due to the inclement weather.

The Philippine Navy – Marines, CAFGU (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units), and Philippine Coast Guards led the search for the fishermen.

Edited by LZB