26 stranded fishermen rescued in waters off Zambales

Zambales fisherfolk

SUBIC, Zambales — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in this province announced on Friday (Feb. 2) that all 26 local fishermen stranded in the West Philippine Sea were successfully rescued and are now safe.

The fishermen, all residents of nearby Olongapo City, were reported missing after their fishing vessel encountered engine trouble while out in the open sea.

Commodore Euphraim Jayson Diciano, commander of the PCG sub-station in this province, said fishing vessel FBCA “Saling” left Barangay Kalaklan in this city on Jan. 19 but its engine broke down some 18 nautical miles (33 kilometers) southwest of Sampaloc Point in this town.

In an interview, Diciano said the boat captain managed to send a radio message to the boat owner, who then contacted the PCG substation in Subic, to relay the situation before they eventually lost contact due to the poor sea conditions on Monday.

READ: 5 fishermen rescued from capsized boat in Zambales

“We immediately formed a search and rescue team to locate FBCA Saling. We also notified the Subic port control unit about the incident, and it then advised all vessels transiting the area to be on the lookout for the missing boat,” Diciano said.

On Wednesday, PCG personnel reached the last known location of the distressed boat but it was no longer there.

Diciano said the search team was forced to return to the shore that day due to the strong winds and high waves caused by the prevailing northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan.”

Five crew members of another fishing vessel that also got stranded at Sampaloc Point due to engine trouble were rescued by PCG personnel while searching for FBCA Saling on Tuesday. INQ

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