Coast guard rescues four distressed fishermen off Guimaras

Philippine Coast Guard personnel on Tuesday rescued four fishermen clinging to their capsized motor banca off the island-province of Guimaras in Western Visayas.

GMA News reported Wednesday that PCG men from  the Iloilo Fishing Port Complex (IFPC) and from Jordan town substations sent a rescue team upon receiving an emergency call from a passing passenger ship that spotted the distressed fishermen.

At 6:55 a.m. Tuesday, the report said, the chief mate of the MV San Rafael Uno of 2Go Shipping Lines informed Coast Guard Station Iloilo about the capsized motor banca off Muhuy Pt. Sinapsapan Anchorage Area.

Coast guard personnel found the fishermen clinging to their capsized motor banca some 300 meters away from the shore of Brgy. Buyo, Jordan.

All the four fishers are residents of Miraculous Zone 06, Calumpang, Iloilo City. They were identified as Melvic Pompirada, 37; Joe Russel Sumagaysay, 20; Melfred Pompirada, 28; and Emilio Pompirada, 32.

The victims told authorities that at 10 p.m. on April 24, they left Iloilo City's Brgy. Calumpang port on board M/BCA Jeanie Joven to fish in waters just 200 meters off Bondulan Point.

They said that as they were laying down their nets, the motor banca listed to its left side and took on water. The boat stalled and later drifted toward the direction of Barangay Buyo.

All four rescued fishermen have been turned over in good physical condition to their family. —LBG, GMA News