9 Pangasinan fishermen rescued off Ilocos Norte

SUAL, Pangasinan, Philippines — Nine fishermen from Bolinao town in Pangasinan province were rescued by a passing ship on\ Tuesday in the West Philippine Sea, near Ilocos Norte province, a Philippine Coast Guard official said here on Wednesday.

Lt. Senior Grade Alexander Corpuz, PCG station commander here, identified the fishermen as Ruel Dongkoy, 43; Meliton Pudot, 58; Marvin Cabasan, 32; Joel Ayuske, 42; Dominador Branzuela, 40; Federico Rosal, 22; Mark Anthony Garcia, 22; Renato Rance, 60; and Ariel Tobias, 26, all residents of Barangay (village) Arnedo in Bolinao.

Corpuz said four others were missing.

He said the fishermen left Bolinao on July 2 to fish 100 nautical miles into the West Philippine Sea.

“Apparently, their boat engine conked out and they drifted north,” said Corpuz.

On Tuesday, the fishing boat owner reported to Corpuz that the fishermen were missing and were seen in waters off Laoag City in Ilocos Norte.

Corpuz said after coordinating with the PCG station in Currimao town in Ilocos Norte, he was informed that nine of the fishermen were picked up by a foreign ship.

Corpuz said he sent a team to the ship, which docked about 3 nautical miles from this town, to fetch the fishermen.