US Navy ship rescues 11 fishermen

DAGUPAN CITY—Eleven Pangasinan fishermen, who were earlier reported missing, were rescued at the West Philippine Sea by a US Navy ship on its way to Subic Bay in Olongapo City on Monday.

Charlito Maniago, chair of Barangay Cato in Infanta town, where the fishermen live, said he was informed about the rescue by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Metro Manila.

He identified them as Fernando Rebuta, 52; Eddie Buenbinida, 52; Charlie Dumas, 47; Daniel Canaway, 31; Andy Lebios, 32; Wilson Etac, 62; Armando Polo, 51; Jerry Oleverio, 53; Elorde Encarguez, 20; Virgel Encarguez, 18; and Ariel Balaguit, 27.

Lt. Senior Grade Alexander Corpuz, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard station in Sual town, confirmed the report.

The fishermen left Cato on July 15 as the southwest monsoon dumped heavy rain in northern Luzon and whipped huge waves in the West Philippine Sea.

At about 2 p.m. on Saturday, Maniago said, the fishermen called their relatives in Cato, saying their boat was being battered by huge waves and was about to sink 81 nautical miles (150 km) west of Bolinao town. They had tied themselves to a “payao” (artificial reef) to avoid being swept by the current.

In a press conference, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chair Roberto Garcia announced the rescue of the fishermen by the USNS Impeccable, which is visiting the Subic free port, which found them adrift some 90 nautical miles (166 kilometers) from the port.

A statement from the US Pacific Fleet said sailors from the ship initially saw eight people on a “partially submerged vessel.”

“They then realized that it was actually 11 and made the call to commence the rescue effort,” Lt. Cory Hilgart, theater antisubmarine watch officer at Commander, Task Force 74, of the US Pacific Fleet, said.

The fishermen were taken to a hospital there. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon