Missing Palawan fishermen rescued by Coast Guard, BFAR

Operatives of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have found and rescued two fishermen whose boat capsized in Honda Bay, Palawan on July 20.   Coast Guard Lt. Commander Hostillo E. Cornelio, commanding officer of the PCG-BFAR’s jointly manned patrol vessel MCS 3002, said on Tuesday that they rescued the men about 4.5 nautical miles east of Fudeado Island in the waters off Barangay Tinabog in San Rafael, Puerto Princesa.   According to those rescued, their motorized bangka F/B Irish left Green Island for the municipality of Roxas at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, and capsized in severe weather conditions at around 2 a.m. on Friday.   BFAR director Asis G. Perez commended the quick response of the crew of the MCS 3002 as well as the support of the civilian sea patrol Bantay Dagat and the local PNP, who immediately reported the missing fishing boat and crew.   “During the typhoon season, eight out of 10 casualties are usually fishermen. This is why our patrol vessels are always ready to help distressed fishing boats and crew,” he said.   Perez added that fishermen should abide by storm warnings and not to venture out to sea in times of bad weather.   The rescued fishermen, Oscar Lique, 53, and Jason Leonilo, 39, are residents of Barangay Mandaragat in Puerto Princesa City. They were reunited with their companions Juling Almoraje, Bentot Bartolay and Julan Leonilo, who had been rescued earlier by Bantay Dagat volunteers. — BM/VS, GMA News