Rescued fisherman says he heard voice tell him to come out of hiding

One of the 14 fishermen who went missing last week after Typhoon Quiel sank their boat said he was rescued thanks to a voice that told him to come out of his makeshift shelter.

According to a Wednesday report on GMA News TV’s “QRT,” Anghelito Epetito Jr. had given up hope of being rescued after going four days without food and water.

“Sabi ko, pagka a-onse a-dose, hindi pa ako nakainom ng tubig, talagang bibigay na ako,” he recalled.

“Kaya noong ala una ng madaling araw, parang may bumulong sa akin, ‘Lumabas ka diyan sa bodega na hinihigaan mo.’ Pagdungaw ko, nakita ko ‘yung bangka sa mismong katig nila. Nagsisigaw ako, humihingi ng tulong,” Epetito said.

Epetito and 13 other fishermen, all of whom are his relatives, got lost at sea on November 6 when a wave “as huge as a church” took down their boat at around 1 a.m. while they were on their way back to Mariveles, Bataan.

The fishermen were onboard F/B Three Sisters.

When their boat sank, Epetito held on to a piece of styrofoam while the other fishermen anchored onto gallons of oil to stay afloat.

“Nabali po lahat ng batangan (poste at katig). Diretso lubog na po kami. Dumilim na po ang paligid kaya nagkatarantahan na po, hindi na namin alam gagawin,” he narrated.

Epetito was rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard along Subic four days after the typhoon sank their boat.

“Dalawang araw po akong uminom ng sarili kong ihi. Napagod na po ako kakakampay. Nawalan na po ng resistensya katawan ko sa kakakampay,” he said. “Kaya nagdasal na lang po talaga sa Panginoon sana’y makarekober man lang, para sa pamilya ko.”

Among the 13 fishermen still missing is 55-year-old Lauriano Delos Santos, the ship’s captain.

Epetito and his family are still holding on to hope that their missing relatives will be found.

“Sana po sila’y mga buhay, at iyong anak ko doon ay dalawa po. Masakit kasi noong September 25, kami ay nasunugan pa po. Sana matulungan kami,” said Christina Gabales.

“Five days na po ang nakalipas, so hindi natin alam kung saan na sila napadpad, sana’y nasa mabuti silang kalagayan lahat,” Coast Guard Substation Mariveles Commander Nelson Corpuz added. — Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News