6 fishermen rescued off Silay coast

Negros Occidental. INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has rescued six fishermen after strong waves and wind submerged their banca off the coast of Silay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday morning, May 12.

The six were identified as Joan Infante, 37, Arnel Sevilla, 25, Jondle Sevilla, 24, Liberato Sevilla, 58, Ricky Sevilla, 30, and Elmer Tiongzon, 39.

Commander Paterno Belarmino Jr. of the PCG Station Northern Negros Occidental (PCGSNNOC) said the fishermen left Catabla Baybay, Barangay Zone 3 in Talisay City at 4 a.m. to go fishing.

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At about 7 a.m., while fishing in the waters of Silay City, the fishermen’s boat was hit by strong winds and waves causing one of the outriggers to detach.

Water started to flood the motor banca, forcing the six fishermen to jump into the sea.

Around 9 a.m., the PCGSNNOC headquarters in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, received a distress call from a passing tanker ship reporting that they had spotted the six fishermen floating around four nautical miles from the coastline of Silay City.

The six fishermen were picked up by a tugboat led by Auxiliary Commander Ricky Malayo of the 618th Squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary along with their half-submerged boat to the BREDCO port in Bacolod City.

The six were immediately given medical attention at the Coast Guard Sub-Station Bacolod. None of them suffered serious injuries.